NCJ Number
133603
Date Published
1989
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This 1989 conference considered the role of policies and practices for dealing with offenders as part of a comprehensive strategy to prevent child sexual abuse and minimize the harmful effects of such abuse on the child and family.
Abstract
More than 160 people attended the conference, representing a wide range of agencies and organizations. The aim was to foster understanding and cooperation between managers, professionals, and policymakers in dealing with the sexual abuse of children. Conference participants addressed the protection of children, covering such topics as the role of civil and criminal courts, what abused children want, and offender treatment. Other participants dealt with children and the family unit, child sexual abuse investigations and the decision to prosecute, legal processes, and community-based versus institutionally-based programs for offenders. Participants also highlighted the extent to which children of all ages are subject to sexual abuse, changes in public attitudes and police procedures that have led to more sexual offense victims coming forward, aggravating and mitigating factors in child sexual abuse, and incest. They concluded that public opinion needs to be considered in dealing with offenders effectively, that cooperation at the local level where decisionmaking takes place is essential, that civil and criminal procedures should be coordinated, and that services for risk-prone families should be started early to prevent further abuse.