A training manual was written on child sexual abuse investigations. The theoretical framework of the training involved combining the expertise of law enforcement and mental health professionals in a joint interview process. Ten law enforcement officers were trained in the investigation process and tested for recall, recognition, and application. Evaluation of the training was based on the officers' perceptions of the effectiveness of the training. The results of the evaluation showed that content on the dynamics of child sexual abuse could be taught and retained by using an 8-hour training period. The applicability of the training to investigative interviews could not be taught in the 8-hour period. Implications for future training include longer and more intensive training periods that involve practice time, observation, and working as a secondary officer with a trained investigator before the trainee becomes a primary officer for the investigation. Key issues for training include child sexual abuse dynamics, children and suggestibility, the sexual abuse disclosure process, child development issues, the use of non-leading questions, the use of interview aids, fact versus fantasy, rapport-building with children, discussion of private parts, and setting the stage for a spontaneous disclosure. The training was rated by the officers. The format, presentation, manual, and investigative protocol were viewed positively. The primary complaint was the need for more training time. The overall rating score for the training was 90.7 percent.
Child Sexual Abuse Investigations: A Joint Investigative Approach Combining the Expertise of Mental Health and Law Enforcement Professionals (From Policing in Central and Eastern Europe: Comparing Firsthand Knowledge With Experience From the West, P 341-354, 1996, Milan Pagon, ed. -- See NCJ-170291)
NCJ Number
170322
Date Published
1996
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a U.S. police training course in child-sexual-abuse investigative procedures and techniques.
Abstract