Child Abuse and Exploitation: Investigative Techniques

• NCJ Number: 138742
• Author(s): J R Shepherd; B Dworin; R H Farley; B J Russ; P W Tresser
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 285 pages
• Contract Number(s): 91-MU-R-021
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Corporate Author: Federal Law Enforcement Training Ctr (FLETC)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Training (Handbook/Manual)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Intended for use by investigators at the Federal, State, and local levels, this manual presents guidelines on investigating child abuse, proper interviewing techniques, and legal issues surrounding such cases.

Abstract

The manual was developed by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for use at its training sessions offered through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Individual chapters provide investigatory suggestions, basic medical information on different types of injuries caused by physical abuse, the nature and dynamics of incest, sexual abuse indicators, and child sexual exploitation. An additional chapter gives step by step instructions for interviewing child abuse victims; interviewing family, friends, and witnesses; and interrogating the suspect. A discussion of investigative techniques relating to missing children covers the initial response, the intensive investigation, the sustained investigation, and follow-up and close-out of an investigation. The final chapter discusses legal issues related to the judicial process, case preparation, juvenile witnesses, hearsay evidence, videotaped testimony, and the use of closed-circuit television. Appended checklists, additional guidelines, lists of resources, forms, and related materials