NCJ Number
126593
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 57 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1990) Pages: 111-112,114,117-120
Date Published
1990
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Cases of child sexual abuse are, by their nature, difficult to investigate. To successfully investigate cases of child sexual abuse, agents must understand the trauma and pain these children have endured. The stages of the investigation as well as several child interviewing techniques are discussed.
Abstract
Before attempting to interview the child, the investigator should question parents or guardians and, if applicable, the social services caseworker or physician. From these people, the investigator should determine the victim's developmental status, the circumstances of the abuse as reported by the victim to other persons or agencies, and the aftermath of the victim's disclosure of sexual abuse. The interviewer is urged to make the child as comfortable as possible, while emphasizing privacy and support and using language appropriate to the child's level of understanding. Questions to ask include (1) what happened; (2) who did it; (3) when did it happen; (4) where did it happen; and (5) was there coercion? Various interviewing aids are discussed as to timing of use and benefits of each aid to the investigation. Interviewing the offender is also briefly discussed as well as possible results of the overall investigation. Two highlighted boxes of information, one on the child's age and developmental levels as they pertain to interviewing and the other on what to look for at the crime scene, are presented.