NCJ Number
145976
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 17 Issue: 6 Dated: (November-December 1993) Pages: 767-783
Date Published
1993
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Allegations of sexual abuse from more than 100 children at a day care center in Michigan were analyzed.
Abstract
The center had had a good reputation in the community. The 106 alleged victims (55 girls, 51 boys) ranged in age from 2.5 to 11 years. Their allegations were analyzed in aggregate by applying criteria derived from Statement Validity Analysis (SVA) protocols, and individually by considering characteristics of the children (e.g., age, gender, recency of attendance) and of the investigation (e.g., agency doing the interview, number of interviews, use of anatomically correct dolls). Sixty-two (58 percent) of the children made explicit disclosures of sexual abuse to at least one investigating agency, and another 20 (19 percent) made implicit disclosures. Among all the disclosures, 68 (83 percent) were made during the first contact. Within the SVA framework, the allegations were deemed valid. Analysis demonstrated consistency and logical structure within statements pertaining to individual children, across children for a particular type of statement, and across different types of statements. The timing of the statements indicated that the children were spontaneous rather than coached, and their recantation rate was low. The author discuss alternative interpretations as well. 4 tables, 1 figure, and 41 references