NCJ Number
182583
Date Published
1999
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This article presents complications likely to arise in multivictim cases and potential actions to mitigate the problems.
Abstract
The multivictim case presents special difficulties for the child protection system, including enhanced probability of multiple interviews and potential contamination of children’s narratives by a variety of factors. Further, multivictim cases have been empirically shown to be more likely to involve severely abused children, fantastic claims and other complications. The article discusses the following observations and proposals: (1) The multivictim case is not well-managed by the use of common or standard practices within the child protection system today; (2) Centers for Child Protection should adopt a Second Interview Protocol which includes the circumstances that led the center to decide that the risks of reinterview were outweighed by the potential benefits; (3) Centers should develop a standardized introduction which addresses the child’s likely concerns about the reasons for multiple questioning; (4) Centers should provide periodic training in nonleading interviews while not overemphasing the risk of minimum numbers of directive questions; (5) Centers interviewing children for forensic purposes should initiate discussions regarding appropriate responses to fantastic elements; (6) forensic interviewers who testify regarding the accounts of children who have been abused should be familiar with the literature on dissociated effect and flat effect as frequent by-products of the abuse experience; (7) Centers should identify appropriately trained professionals to act as liaisons with parental support groups; and (8) Centers should appoint a case manager responsible for coordination of all multivictim cases. Tables, references