POLICE AND SOCIAL WORKER COOPERATION - A KEY IN CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES

• NCJ Number: 65919
• Journal: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1980) Pages: 7-10
• Author(s): J R CONTE; L BERLINER; D NOLAN
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTER OF THE HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER IN SEATTLE, WASH., SHOWS THAT POLICE AND SOCIAL WORKERS CAN DEVELOP COMPLEMENTARY ROLES IN SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS.

Abstract

THE 1968 PROJECT, FUNDED BY AN LEAA GRANT, WAS INTENDED TO DEVELOP NEW PROCEDURES TO BE USED BY CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL IN DEALING WITH CHILD VICTIMS. COUNTY POLICE RECORDS AND A SERIES OF SEMISTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL PROVIDED THE INFORMATION. A TOTAL OF 59 SEX CRIME CASES WERE INVESTIGATED. MOST OF THE VICTIMS WERE FEMALE, CAUCASIAN, AND RANGED IN AGE FROM 6 TO 12 YEARS. SUSPECTS WERE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY MALE, CAUCASIAN, WITH 57.6 PERCENT ADULT AND 30.5 PERCENT JUVENILES. INTERCOURSE WAS INVOLVED IN 45.8 PERCENT OF THE ASSAULTS AND CHILD MOLESTATIONS IN 54.2 PERCENT. A TOTAL OF 32.2 PERCENT OF THE PERPETRATORS WERE FAMILY MEMBERS AND 49.2 PERCENT WERE KNOWN TO THE CHILD BUT NOT RELATED. THE VICTIM'S HOME WAS THE LOCATION FOR 47.5 PERCENT OF THE CASES AND MOST CASES WERE REPORTED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE LAST ASSAULT. SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTER, POLICE OFFICERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WORKED TOGETHER OVER A 2-YEAR PERIOD TO ESTABLISH NEW PROCEDURES FOR CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. SOCIAL WORKERS INCREASED THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF POLICE PROCEDURES, RULES OF EVIDENCE, AND THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A CASE. POLICE BECAME MORE AWARE OF OFFENDER PSYCHOLOGY AND THE NEEDS OF SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. POLICE PERSONNEL WOULD FREQUENTLY INFORM VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES ABOUT THE SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING AND ADVOCACY AVAILABLE FROM THE CENTER'S SOCIAL WORKERS. IN ADDITION, THE STUDY SHOWED THAT SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN COULD BE SUCCESSFULLY INVESTIGATED. OF THE 59 CASES, ONLY 11.9 PERCENT WENT UNSOLVED OR LACKED SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO FILE CHARGES. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)