NCJ Number
124650
Date Published
1989
Length
251 pages
Annotation
The impact of child death teams on the identification, prosecution, and prevention of child homicides was studied in California's 58 counties through telephone contacts, personal interviews, and questionnaires.
Abstract
The first study phase assessed institutional responses to child death investigations and examined investigative procedures used throughout the State, both in counties with interagency child death review teams and in counties without such teams. Study consultants found that 17 California counties have instituted some form of interagency child death review, 7 are in the process of implementing such review, and the remaining 34 counties do not have interagency teams in place. Study consultants determined that interagency child death review has worked, although most counties do not have accurate statistics on the number of deaths or investigations performed. While there was some resistance to the idea of mandated interagency teams in counties without teams, resistance was not directed toward communication and coordination but rather toward mandated procedures for coordination. There was strong support for increased training relative to child homicide and for the development of written protocols to facilitate interagency child death investigation and review. Appendixes contain extensive supplemental information on study procedures and results. 22 references, 8 tables.