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INVESTIGATING SEX CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN

NCJ Number
144988
Author(s)
J J Mead; D L Westgate
Date Published
1992
Length
53 pages
Annotation
This manual provides child sexual abuse investigators with guidelines on interviewing children and parents where abuse has been reported and claims made.
Abstract
The investigator has the responsibility of providing accurate information to the protective service system and the courts to protect the child in question and to prosecutors who decide whether or not to file criminal charges. The focus of any child sexual abuse investigation must be on the child, medical evidence, and psychological evaluation. This guide outlines physical and behavioral signs of abuse, describes the characteristics of child victims in various age categories, and reviews four types of pedophiles (fixated, regressed, undifferentiated, and stressed). Characteristics of female sex offenders are discussed separately. The section on the physical examination of suspected victims of child sexual abuse details and illustrates potential clinical findings in terms of genital injuries, injuries to other parts of the body, venereal disease, scarring, and new growth blood vessels. The manual suggests that involved agencies coordinate their interview of the child in order to minimize the trauma and to avoid duplicative efforts. Components of the interview, including location, art supplies and toys, anatomically correct dolls, interview techniques, and documentation, are discussed.