NCJ Number
95087
Date Published
1982
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Guidelines for identifying physical and sexual child abuse are presented, and the officer's role in investigation of child abuse is delineated.
Abstract
The following conditions can alert the officer to possible physical abuse: marked discrepancy between the nature of the injury and the cause alleged by the parents, unusual lapse of time between the occurrence of the injury and the time medical care is sought, fractures in children under age 4, visible skin injuries, recurrent injury, and failure to thrive. Parental behaviors and circumstances also may provide clues. These include evasiveness, complaints, lack of empathy for the child, rejection of the child, parental history of abuse as a child, lack of concern about the injury, and existence of a crisis situation. The officer investigating child abuse is responsible for protecting the child and removing the child from the home if necessary, obtaining needed medical care for the child, photographing the injuries, gathering pertinent facts, and building a case. In child sexual abuse, generally the child who reports such abuse is telling the truth; other children in the family are likely to suffer abuse unless intervention occurs; physical abuse of other family members often exists concurrently; and chemical dependency (especially alcoholism) in the father frequently is present. The incestuous father often is uncooperative and unchangeable without outside control, while the mother should be considered a direct participant in the sexual abuse. Most important, the child reporting the abuse must be protected. Investigation of an incest offense must be initiated and completed as quickly as possible after it is reported. The investigation should be referred to the local child protection agency which can provide services to the family and assistance during the investigation. Photographs are included.