NCJ Number
128159
Date Published
1990
Length
372 pages
Annotation
Based on the authors' experience, research, and review of the literature, this book identifies serious problems in the procedures followed in cases of child sexual abuse, especially procedures used to interview children.
Abstract
The authors have been actively involved in over 300 cases of child sexual abuse accusations. They have conducted research projects in six areas related to child sexual abuse: interrogation of children, therapy for children, judicial assessment of competence, use of anatomically detailed dolls, personality profiles of persons falsely accused, and consequences to mental health professionals who aid in the defense of a person accused of sexual abuse. They conclude that child sexual abuse is an issue with a strong symbolic character that elicits a uniform emotional response. Judges, prosecutors, and juries often rubber stamp the opinions of law enforcement and mental health experts. In addition, there are problems with the way in which children are interviewed. Typical investigative procedures include repeated interrogations by police, social workers, and/or mental health professionals. This experience may result in adults inadvertently molding and developing an account of sexual abuse in a nonabused child and may create confusion over fact versus fantasy. The experience may also teach the child to please adults by giving them what they want. With the increase in reported child sexual abuse and the number of cases depending on the uncorroborated testimony of a young child, there has been controversy over the susceptibility of children's memories to suggestion and the reliability of their testimony. Case histories and interviews with children are provided to demonstrate some of the difficulties in many cases of alleged child sexual abuse. 150 references and 9 tables