Victim-Sensitive Interviewing in Child Sexual Abuse: A Developmental Approach to Interviewing and Consideration of the Use of Anatomically Detailed Dolls

• NCJ Number: 133386
• Author(s): H Levy; N Kalinowski; J Markovic; M Pittman; S Ahart
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 115 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-CA-1349
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Sale Source: Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Ctr
• Publication Type: Program Description (Demonstrative)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This monograph offers a developmental approach to using anatomically detailed dolls when conducting victim interviews related to child sexual abuse cases.

Abstract

In addition to anatomically detailed dolls, other facilitative tools available to interviewers include normal dolls, doll houses, puppets, and anatomical and free drawings. Despite important issues concerning the legal and clinical reliability of using anatomical dolls, there are currently no standardized procedures for their use in victim interviewing. This monograph reviews comparative and normative doll studies and overviews the results of a recent research project completed by the Pediatric Ecology Program. In terms of victim interviews, the monograph outlines child development and interview training prerequisites. In approaching the interview, the interviewer must consider formats, settings, the child's level of sexual knowledge, and the appropriateness of using anatomical dolls. The actual interview consists of several processes including setting the stage, integrating anatomical dolls into the interview process, obtaining incident information, terminating the interview, and documenting and assessing the results. Several interview vignettes are presented, and the monograph concludes by considering the advantages and drawbacks of both blind interviews and videotaped interviews. 5 appendixes