NCJ Number
232074
Date Published
June 2010
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Federal Districts of Oklahoma developed these guidelines for reporting and investigating child abuse criminal offenses in Indian country.
Abstract
These guidelines are to be used in all reported cases in which incidents of child sexual or physical abuse occur in Indian country that involve an Indian child or Indian perpetrator, including a minor. All child sexual or physical abuse cases must be coordinated by a Child Protection Team and/or a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), when feasible. The agencies that should be represented in the MDT are listed. A listing is provided of agencies that are to be notified when an initial report of child sexual or physical abuse is received. Within 36 hours of the initial report, the local law enforcement agency or child protection services agency which received the initial report shall follow the telephone report with a written report to the agencies notified after the initial report. Information to be provided in this report is indicated in the guidelines. The guidelines then address the determination of Indian country jurisdiction and the subsequent coordination of law enforcement resources for the investigation of the case. Guidelines are also provided for emergency removal of a child, a medical examination, forensic interviews, whether there will be a tribal or Federal prosecution, the liaison with the victim, and services for the victim in the course of criminal justice processing. Jurisdictional charts are provided for prosecution and criminal investigation in Indian country, as well as for child protection and investigation of child abuse or neglect cases in Indian country. A flow chart for reporting and investigating such cases is also provided.