NCJ Number
167283
Date Published
1993
Length
496 pages
Annotation
This manual provides materials for a seminar intended to provide Federal prosecutors with specialized training for Federal prosecutions of child sexual abuse and exploitation cases, including the enhanced responsibilities under the Crime Control Act of 1990.
Abstract
All appropriate Department of Justice policy as well as appropriate Federal case law is incorporated into this training to provide continuity and uniformity in the handling of cases that involve child victims and witnesses, as detailed in the 1991 Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The material is presented under various topics. Material on the investigation of child sexual abuse focuses on interrogations of child molesters, typologies of molesters, and the investigation of child sexual abuse in the American Indian community. A section on "Statutes/Jurisdiction and Charging Decisions" focuses on Federal jurisdiction over child sexual abuse and exploitation cases and issues to be considered in charging decisions. Other topics discussed are professional ethics; pretrial motions and issues; scientific evidence; medical evidence; grand jury, jury selection, openings, case in chief, and experts; special victim/offender case considerations; interviewing child victims; legal considerations when the victim/witness is a child; and meeting common defenses. Remaining sections address closing arguments, the Federal prosecution of child exploitation cases, computers and child exploitation, victim/witness coordinator, and multidisciplinary teams. Extensive appended supplementary material