It is important for judges, prosecutors, and lawyers involved in child sexual abuse cases to have a psychological assessment of the child's developmental status and to know if the child is functioning at the expected level for his or her age. Mental health professionals can provide this kind of assessment as well as information obtained from videotaped interviews and from observing the child in play with anatomically correct dolls. The chapter contains detailed guidance for the mental health professional in interview procedures with young children, the use of interviews with other family members to develop a family and social history of the child, and the assessment of physical evidence and the child's credibility. A proper and thorough evaluation of the child is important for legal as well as therapeutic purposes. 17 references.