NCJ Number
174041
Date Published
1995
Length
97 pages
Annotation
A two-phased project was initiated to extend knowledge about child sexual abuse and law enforcement, social welfare, and justice system responses to the problem.
Abstract
The first phase of the project was to involve literature review, legal analysis, national telephone survey, secondary analysis of child sexual abuse cases drawn from prior research, selection of four sites for detailed study, and preliminary site visits. The second phase of the project was to include intensive fieldwork in four cities (San Diego, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Dallas) to examine more fully the nature of abused children and young people and system responses to them. Fieldwork was planned to encompass three interrelated activities: (1) qualitative interviews with justice and social service system representatives; (2) analysis of case records data obtained from criminal and juvenile justice systems; and (3) personal interviews with exploited youth served by runaway and juvenile prostitution programs. Procedures for youth interviewers to follow in conducting the project are described, with emphasis on differences between clinical and research roles, subject recruitment, and interview protocols. Interview coding procedures are also detailed, as well as procedures for case record abstraction, data transfer, and confidentiality assurance. The following forms for use in fieldwork are provided: confidentiality agreement, participant informed consent form, interview log, adolescent interview guide, and participant stipend receipt form.