Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program - A Report Prepared for the Advisory and Co-Ordinating Committee on Child Abuse (From Pre-Trial Diversion for Adult Offenders, P 150-158, 1985, Ron Snashall, ed. - See NCJ-103703)

• NCJ Number: 103710
• Author(s): C Deller
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This paper considers major components of a comprehensive child sexual abuse treatment program (CSATP) -diversion programs, mandatory reporting, and counseling and treatment -- as reviewed by a subcommittee of Western Australia's Advisory and Coordinating Committee on Child Abuse.

Abstract

The subcommittee's task was to examine the major components of a comprehensive program for treating child sexual abuse, based broadly on the San Jose Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program (California). This is a diversionary program that emphasizes counseling and support rather than punishment. It is offered to suitable offenders and their families. Criteria for the diversion program are the offender's admission of the offense and acceptance of the diversion program, offender suitability, a contract between a legal authority and the offender, and the availability of suitable treatment programs. The CSATP must be based on the mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse by appropriate professionals, with early involvement of the police in the investigation. Counseling and treatment must be staffed by trained professionals, with supplementary self-help groups maintained by professional staff. The opposition of the Western Australian police to the pretrial diversion of incest offenders, among other factors, makes it unlikely that a CSATP program based in the criminal justice system will be adopted in the near future. Recommendations are offered for improved services by the Community Welfare Department's Child Sexual Abuse Unit.