Title: Law Enforcement Response to Child Abuse



Series: Portable Guide



Contributing Authors: Carl B. Hammond, Kenneth V.

Lanning, Wayne Promisel, Jack R. Shepherd, Bill Walsh 



Published: May 1997; March 2001



Subject: Missing and exploited children



27 pages



43,000 bytes



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To view this document in its entirety, download the

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site or order a print copy from NCJRS at 800-638-

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Law Enforcement Response to Child Abuse





Portable Guides to Investigating Child Abuse



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Foreword



Law Enforcement Response to Child Abuse--like all the

Portable Guides in this series--is designed to assist

those working to help protect children from being

victimized and to improve the investigation of child

abuse cases.



This guide arms law enforcement professionals with

the information needed to ensure consistency in their

investigation of child abuse. Pertinent

considerations and helpful investigatory protocols

are provided. Other useful materials include

suggestions on working with physicians, responding to

domestic disturbance calls, and placing children in

protective custody. Supplemental readings and

additional resources are cited.



In protecting our children from criminal predators,

law enforcement professionals are serving their

communities and their Nation. We hope that this guide

will aid in that worthy endeavor.



Original Printing May 1997



Second Printing March 2001



NCJ 162425



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Child abuse is a community problem. No single 

agency has the training, manpower, resources, or

legal mandate to intervene effectively in child 

abuse cases. No one agency has the sole

responsibility for dealing with abused children.



When a child is physically beaten or sexually 

abused, the ideal set of events is that doctors 

treat the injuries, therapists counsel the child,

social services works with the family, police arrest

the offender, and attorneys prosecute the case. To

promote this response, effective community

intervention involves the formation of a child

protection team that includes professionals from

medicine, criminal justice, social work, and

education who understand and appreciate the different

roles, responsibilities, strengths, and weaknesses of

the other team members but cooperate and coordinate

their efforts. The skills of each person are viewed

as different but equally important.



The role of law enforcement in child abuse cases is

to investigate to determine if a violation of

criminal law occurred, identify and apprehend the

offender, and file appropriate criminal charges. The

response of law enforcement to child abuse needs to

be consistent. The intent of this guide is to provide

officers who respond to this type of crime with

information that will ensure this consistency. It is

also to help law enforcement understand the

importance of developing procedures and protocols and

ways they can work with other professions to ensure

that the needs of children are met.



State-mandated reporting laws require a referral 

when there is a suspicion of abuse. In most child

abuse cases, law enforcement becomes involved in one 

of two ways: by a referral from a school, a

physician, or an agency such as social services, 

or by a direct call for service from a parent, 

a child, or a neighbor. Because of increased

reporting of child abuse, it is critical that 

police officers be trained to handle cases involving

child maltreatment.



Child abuse cases have unique characteristics that

make them different from other types of cases. For a

number of reasons, children make "perfect" victims,

and crimes involving child abuse, particularly sexual

abuse, are among the most difficult investigated by

law enforcement:



o Children are usually unable to protect themselves

because of their level of physical and mental

development; frequently they do not like to talk

about the abuse. They may delay disclosure or tell

only part of the story.



o An emotional bond often exists between the child

and the offender; children may want the abuse to

stop, but they may not want the offender to be

punished.



o Crimes of abuse are not usually isolated incidents;

instead, they take place over a period of time, often

with increasing severity.



o In most sexual abuse cases, there is no conclusive

medical evidence that sexual abuse occurred.

Moreover, it occurs in a private place with no

witnesses to the event.



o Interviews of children require special handling;

legal issues governing child testimony are

complicated and ever changing, and children--whether

victims or witnesses--are often viewed as less

credible or competent than the accused.



o Child abuse cases often involve concurrent civil,

criminal, and sometimes administrative

investigations; they often cross jurisdictional

lines.



o The criminal justice system was not designed to

handle the special needs of children.



Officers must be objective and proactive in their

investigations of abuse. Questions concerning who,

what, where, when, how, and why must be answered. It

is important to remember that child abuse is a crime

and law enforcement has a legal duty and

responsibility to respond accordingly.



Multidisciplinary Team Approach 



The most effective approach to cases involving child

maltreatment is interagency coordination and

planning. Social workers, physicians, therapists,

prosecutors, judges, and police officers all have

important roles to play. All must work together with

a common concern--the welfare of the child--and with

a common goal--to communicate with mutual respect.

Differences of opinion are to be expected. Effective

teamwork includes having a mechanism for discussing

and, if possible, resolving these differences.



All members of the child protection team have an

obligation to appreciate what the other professionals

on the team are seeking to accomplish and to

understand how their activities interrelate. For

example, law enforcement officers need to be

concerned that their investigation might traumatize a

child, and physicians and therapists need to be

concerned that their treatment and evaluation

techniques might hinder or damage law enforcement's

investigation. An ongoing discussion of problems that

the team encounters during investigations will help

resolve them and will also clarify the roles and

responsibilities of team members.



All players on the child protection team must have

clearly defined roles in order to carry out their

responsibilities effectively. 



o An interagency protocol helps in establishing

written guidelines for those who investigate cases of

child abuse and neglect.



o A properly drafted agreement also provides a

blueprint for each of the principal agencies

responsible for abuse cases in the community. 



The team members must also invest their time in

developing a long-range strategic plan that will

ensure the team is ever responsive to the needs and

changes within the community.



The goal should be efficient coordination of

services, with the chief objectives being to

determine what happened and to meet the needs 

of the child.



The following are essential elements of an effective

interdisciplinary response team:



o Identification of the scope of the community

problem.



o Identification of the resources available.



o Establishment of communication guidelines for each

response team member and the victim's family.



o Establishment of clearly defined roles and

responsibilities for each response team member.



o Establishment of clearly defined criteria for the

types of cases with which the team will become

involved.



Establishing Law Enforcement Protocols and Procedures 



With their legal authority to investigate violations

of the law, law enforcement officers are vital

members of a community's child protection team.

Failure to respond properly to child abuse cases from

the outset (e.g., failure of the responding law

enforcement officer to obtain certain information)

can result in cases being dismissed in court or, in

some cases, in innocent people being falsely accused.



Investigators should be trained and experienced in

objectively investigating child maltreatment,

including conducting interviews of children and

interrogating suspected offenders. Training should be

viewed as an ongoing process, designed to increase

the competence of the interdisciplinary team.



Moreover, local law enforcement departments must

establish policies and procedures to investigate

child abuse cases. Personnel investigating child

abuse need to consider many important factors (see

figure 1, "Considerations for Child Abuse

Investigations").



Established agency protocols, guidelines, and

training will guide the decisionmaking process, but

officers are likely to face situations in which the

officer's judgment must be the guiding light. For

this reason, officers must be familiar with what is

expected of them legally in their jurisdiction. As

necessary, they should consult the agency's legal

advisor or the prosecuting attorney to clarify this.







Speaking a Common Language 



Professional terminology is used by many disciplines.

Members of the child protection team must be familiar

with highly specialized technical terms (such as

"subdural hematoma," "dissociation," "battered child

syndrome," and "pedophilia") as well as with basic or

common terms (such as "child," "molestation," and

"rape"). However, problems can arise because some

terms do not have a universally accepted, consistent

definition. It is important for clear communication

and effective coordination that professional team

members understand what is meant when professional

terminology (or jargon) is used by other team members

and that they ask for clarification when they do not.



The legal definition of a child varies from State to

State and even from statute to statute in the same

State. Issues such as whether the victim consented or

whether the offender was a guardian or caretaker are

important legal considerations in such cases. How the

law determines consent is often confusing, even 

in the case of a 14-year-old boy who has been seduced

by a 55-year-old pedophile. There is a difference

between the legal definition of consent and the

meaning given to it by lay people.



To determine who is a child and what is abuse, law

enforcement officers must turn to the law. The penal

code will legally define both, but law enforcement

officers must still deal with their own perceptions

and opinions as well as with those of society as a

whole.



For this reason, people working as part of an

interdisciplinary task force must clearly communicate

how they are defining a particular term and establish

common ground. Law enforcement investigators should

always be aware of and communicate to others the

legal definitions of terms.



Law enforcement investigators must also be able to

communicate with victims, offenders, and witnesses,

as well as with social workers, physicians, mental

health personnel, lawyers, judges, and peers. To

avoid confusion and misunderstanding, investigators

must be equally familiar with various family 

or slang terms for body parts and sexual acts when

talking to victims, witnesses, and suspects.

Investigators must know not only both the slang and

professional terms, but also the appropriate times

for using each.



-------------------------



Figure 1



Considerations for Child Abuse Investigations



When You Receive the Referral



o Identify personal or professional biases with child

abuse cases. Develop the ability to desensitize

yourself to those issues and maintain an objective

stance.



o Know department guidelines and State statutes.



o Know what resources are available in the community

(therapy, victim compensation, etc.) and provide this

information to the child's family.



o Introduce yourself, your role, and the focus and

objective of the investigation.



o Assure that the best treatment will be provided for

the protection of the child.



o Interview the child alone, focusing on

corroborative evidence.



o Don't rule out the possibility of child abuse with

a domestic dispute complaint; talk with the children

at the scene.





Getting Information for the Preliminary Report



o Inquire about the history of the abusive situation.

Dates are important to set the timeline for when

abuse may have occurred.



o Cover the elements of crime necessary for the

report. Inquire about the instrument of abuse or

other items on the scene.



o Don't discount children's statements about who is

abusing them, where and how the abuse is occurring,

or what types of acts occurred.



o Save opinions for the end of the report, and

provide supportive facts. Highlight the atmosphere of

disclosure and the mood and demeanor of participants

in the complaint.



Preserving the Crime Scene 



o Treat the scene as a crime scene (even if abuse has

occurred in the past) and not as the site of a social

problem.



o Secure the instrument of abuse or other

corroborative evidence that the child identifies at

the scene.



o Photograph the scene and, when appropriate, include

any injuries to the child. Rephotograph injuries as

needed to capture any changes in appearance.



Followup Investigation



o Be supportive and optimistic to the child and the

family.



o Arrange for a medical examination and

transportation to the hospital. Collect items for a

change of clothes if needed.



o Make use of appropriate investigative techniques.



o Be sure the child and family have been linked to

support services or therapy.



o Be sure the family know how to reach a detective to

disclose further information.



During the Court Phase



o Visit the court with the child to familiarize him

or her with the courtroom setting and atmosphere

before the first hearing. This role may be assumed by

the prosecutor or, in some jurisdictions, by

victim/witness services.



o Prepare courtroom exhibits (pictures, displays,

sketches)to support the child's testimony.



o File all evidence in accordance with State and

court policy.



o Unless they are suspects, update the family about

the status and progress of the investigation and stay

in touch with them throughout the court process.

Depending on the case, officers should be cautious

about the type and amount of information provided to

the family, since they may share the information with

others.



o Provide court results and case closure information

to the child and the family. 



o Follow up with the probation department for

preparation of the presentence report and victim

impact statement(s).



-------------------------



Working With the Medical Profession 



Physicians can be important allies in the prevention

and treatment of child abuse. Doctors can serve as

family counselors and educators, as influential child

advocates, and as key members of the community

multidisciplinary team. They can help to alleviate

stress on a family by managing health problems,

providing child-rearing advice, and discussing family

planning alternatives.



In cases of suspected child maltreatment, doctors

have five basic responsibilities:



o To identify suspicious injuries.



o To diagnose problems of abuse.



o To administer treatment to the child.



o To report suspected incidents of abuse to the

appropriate authorities.



o To testify in subsequent legal proceedings.



Unfortunately, some physicians are reluctant to get

involved in cases of abuse. For example, they may

find few personal or professional rewards in dealing

with an abusive family. They may not wish to report

an incident because it may be impossible to determine

who caused a child's injuries. Finally, they may not

wish to testify in court because of time constraints

or because of a fear of cross-examination,

interrogation, challenges to their credentials, or

possible litigation.



Law enforcement investigators can help counteract

physicians' reluctance by fully involving members of

the medical profession in the community's team

approach to child abuse and by stressing the

importance of medical evidence in preparing a case

for court. It may also be helpful to remind

physicians that all 50 States and the District of

Columbia have enacted legislation regarding immunity

from civil or criminal liability for persons who, in

good faith, make or participate in making a report of

child abuse or neglect. 





Obtaining a Medical Examination 



In most cases a medical assessment of the child needs

to be performed as soon as possible. The primary

purposes of the medical examination are to assess

potential injury and identify the need for treatment.

Such an examination will also protect law enforcement

against accusations that a child's injuries occurred

after removal from the home. Whenever possible, 

all children suspected of having been abused should

be given a medical examination, preferably by a

medical professional experienced and trained in

conducting forensic examinations. This is critical in

cases in which sexual abuse is alleged. The medical

professional should reassure the child, who may be

fearful about the procedure and concerned about the

physical and emotional consequences of the abuse. 



A secondary purpose of a medical examination is to

determine the presence of any corroborating evidence

of acute or chronic trauma. In recent years the

ability and willingness of doctors to corroborate

child abuse has improved greatly. Better training,

the establishment of protocols, and technological

advancements have improved the ability of doctors to

corroborate physical and sexual abuse in children.

Medical imaging technology now available includes

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography

(CT), and colposcopes (an instrument with

magnification capabilities for visualizing the

interior of a hollow organ, such as the vagina or

rectum; pictures and video can be taken with the

colposcope to document the examination results). 



Law enforcement should be aware that statements made

to doctors by the child during the medical

examination may be admissible in court as exceptions

to the hearsay rule. Many acts of child sexual abuse

do not leave any physical injury that can be

identified by a medical examination. In addition,

children's injuries can heal rapidly. However, lack

of medical corroboration does not necessarily mean

that a child was not sexually abused or that an

offense cannot be proved in court.



Figure 2, "Sample Child Sexual Abuse Protocol," 

offers guidelines for the immediate law enforcement 

response to an allegation of child sexual abuse and 

provides details about obtaining the medical examination 

critical to investigating this offense.



---------------------



Figure 2



Investigator's Sample Child Sexual Assault Protocol



Interviewing the Victim



o Assess the medical needs of the child so that

emergency medical conditions can be attended to

immediately.



o Determine what examinations are needed for

collection of evidence.



o Determine venue.



o Establish what offenses, if any, have occurred.



o Establish date and time of the offense.



o Contact child protective services (CPS), if that

has not been done.



Obtaining a Medical Examination



Note: If a sexual assault occurred within the

previous 72 hours, the medical examination should be

performed as soon as possible to maximize the

possibility of recovering certain forensic evidence,

such as blood, semen, saliva, and trace evidence. If

the assault occurred more than 72 hours before, 

the probability of this type of evidence being

recovered is reduced. However, since the investigator

cannot be absolutely sure when the last encounter

was, it is prudent to schedule the medical

examination sooner rather than later. A physician

and/or nurse examiner conducts the examination.



o Contact a physician and/or sexual assault nurse

examiner. 



o Coordinate with CPS to determine if you (the police

investigator) or the CPS worker will accompany the

child to the examination.



o Meet with the CPS representative, the physician

and/or nurse examiner, the child, and the parent or

guardian at the hospital treatment room.



o Assist the child and parents or guardian with the

procedures for admission to the emergency room. (CPS

may provide this assistance, depending on who has

requested the examination.)



o Brief medical personnel concerning the facts,

allegations, suspect information, the mental state of

the child, past histories, and what the police

department and CPS are looking for in the examination

and what evidence is to be collected.



Handling the Evidence



o See that the cultures are prepared and marked to

maintain the chain of custody. Include the date, the

initials of the person conducting the examination,

and the child's name. Transport the cultures and all

other materials collected for evidence to the State

laboratory. Make sure that both you and the

laboratory personnel have signed the chain of custody

form. Local procedures may differ from this; law

enforcement must know and follow all jurisdictional

procedures for handling evidence.



o Make sure that photographs are marked with the

date, time, victim's name, photographer's initials,

and case number and turned over to you as evidence.

Photographs can be taken by police officers,

investigators, CPS workers, physicians, nurse

examiners, or other parties.



Subpoena Procedures



o Call the physician and/or nurse examiner as soon as 

possible if a subpoena has been issued to compare

calendars and identify any conflicts early. Such

notification should include the names of the child

victim, defendant, and prosecuting attorney (if

known); court date; and matters to which the

physician may be requested to testify. Local

procedures may differ from this; law enforcement must

know and follow all practices and procedures for

their jurisdiction.



o As an option, law enforcement may assist in the

coordination of a pretrial conference with the

medical professional and the prosecutor in advance of

the court hearing. At this meeting:



   o Questions that may be asked of the medical

professional can be outlined.



   o Medical terminology or difficult trial issues

related to the testimony can be clarified.



   o Requests for exhibits that may be helpful in

clarifying testimony can be discussed and time

allowed for their preparation.



This meeting is also a courtesy to prepare the

medical professional in a timely fashion and to

relieve the anxiety of testifying.



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Domestic Disturbance Calls 



One of the most common calls for service by law

enforcement is the domestic disturbance call. Most

police officers understand the potential for danger

associated with such calls, but many do not realize

that a violent adult might also vent anger on a

child. A recent study in Florida[*] revealed that

nearly one-third of domestic disturbance calls masked

an incident of some form of child victimization. For

this reason, officers should ask whether there are

children living at the residence and, if so, where

they are.



o It is recommended that domestic disturbance calls

be answered with at least two officers, not only for

officer protection but also so that one officer can

deal with the parties involved with the domestic

disturbance while the other officer talks with any

children who may be present.



o Once the involved parties are calm, most parents,

if asked tactfully, will allow an officer to talk

with their children and may even appreciate the

officer's offer to allay a child's fear that someone

has been hurt or is going to jail. 



o If possible, an officer should speak directly with

the children. Such conversations allow the police

officer to gather information about the situation

directly from the child and to assess the child's

need for protection. 



Officers should be observant and look for any

physical signs that the child may have been abused,

but they should be aware that a child in this

situation is likely to be afraid and withdrawn.

Nervousness or a reluctance to talk to an officer

does not mean that physical abuse has taken place.

The officer should be attuned to the fact that the

child may not want to stay at the residence, fearing

another altercation.



An officer suspecting child abuse should preserve

possible crime scene evidence such as a weapon or

instrument of abuse and arrange for photographing of

the scene. This eliminates the need for a search

warrant, since officers are already legally on the

scene. The officer must also notify social services

of his or her suspicions of child abuse as soon as

possible. 



Placing a Child in Emergency Protective Custody 



Officers who become involved in a child abuse case

through social services should consider all

information that has been provided to them. Based on

this information, officers should ask a basic

question: "If we leave and obtain a court order to

remove this child, is the child likely to be injured

before we return?" If the answer is yes, then the

officer should remove the child. All actions should

be in accordance with State guidelines and

departmental policy and procedure:



o Depending on the jurisdiction, the officer may be

obligated to remove the child if direct disclosure of

physical or sexual abuse is made, if such abuse is

alleged, or if evidence of an abusive incident is

present. 



o Moreover, in most jurisdictions, State law allows

an officer to decide to remove a child based on

observation of the facts and judgment of the

information given. In some situations an officer may

remove a child because he or she feels that the child

may suffer further physical or emotional harm or

trauma or be hidden or abducted before a court order

can be obtained.



In some jurisdictions law enforcement may be called

upon by child protective services to investigate

allegations of child abuse, to officially place a

child in emergency protective custody, or to assist

with such placement. Officers in such situations need

to know the laws in their State. Failure to

understand their legally mandated roles and

responsibilities could result in:



o A child being left in a dangerous situation.



o A child being removed illegally.



o The officer and the department being placed in a

situation of civil liability.



However, if a mistake is to be made, it is better 

to err in the attempt to safeguard the physical

well-being of the child.



In jurisdictions where law enforcement has sole

responsibility for deciding to remove a child from

the home, the child is usually placed in the custody

of the department of social services until a final

determination regarding custody of the child can be

made by the courts. Social services is responsible 

for placing the child in a licensed foster care

facility. Officers need to be aware of the legalities

regarding parental rights and their responsibilities

for providing written notification of the child's

removal.



In most States it is not acceptable for law

enforcement to take a child from one parent and 

place him or her in the custody of another parent or

of a relative without a court order or verification

of legal authority. Also, in most States the

placement of a child in the custody of another

individual is the sole responsibility of the

department of social services and not law

enforcement. However, if social services chooses to

place the child in the custody of a parent or someone

other than a licensed foster care facility, law

enforcement should be aware of the jurisdiction's

policies and practices before participating in or

agreeing to this placement.



It is highly recommended that removal or detention

orders or other appropriate court paperwork accompany

officers to the removal site and that this paperwork

be explained to adversarial parents. In some

jurisdictions there is "summary removal" authority--

that is, with no paperwork in hand and based on

circumstances of the case as it develops, the child

may be removed from the home. Safety issues enter

into the equation, especially as law enforcement is

often present for the protection of social service

personnel.



Law enforcement officers are responsible for ensuring

that they have met all requirements of their State

governing the placement of children into protective

custody.



Common Mistakes To Avoid 



Some law enforcement officers inadvertently cause a 

situation to escalate when placing a child in

protective custody. Experienced officers have learned

to avoid three common mistakes:



o Making premature accusations. Making an accusatory

statement to the parent, guardian, or custodian that

the child is being taken into protective custody

because someone has abused the child places police

officers in a situation of serious liability. A more

appropriate statement is, "Because of questionable

injuries, marks, or allegations about inappropriate

activity, the child is being taken to a licensed

foster care facility of the State until a complete

and thorough investigation into the situation can be

conducted."



o Attempting to rationalize the removal of a child.

Some officers attempt to rationalize with the parent

their decision to remove a child. However, the best

tactic is to remove the child and vacate the

situation as quickly as possible, after ensuring that

everyone's rights are protected. The fact is that no

amount of explaining will lessen the pain, fear, and

anger (hostility) involved in having a child taken

away. Officers should be aware that heightened

emotions can lead to a dangerous escalation of the

situation.



o Failing to provide all of the required forms.

Police officers must be familiar with all the forms

that must be completed by the parent at the time that

a child is placed in protective custody. For example,

many States require that a form explaining that the

child has been placed in protective custody must be

provided to the parents within 24 hours after the

child has been so placed. The form must state that

the placement was made in accordance with a

particular statute, and it must describe the parents'

rights in the matter. The responsibility for

providing this form to the parents varies from State

to State. Law enforcement officers and social service

workers must know what is required in their State.



Removing the Child 



If a law enforcement officer has been called to

assist in the removal of a child, it is the officer's

responsibility to ensure that the child is removed

with as little trauma or danger to the child and the

social worker as possible.



o The police officer should meet with the social

worker at a neutral location before going to the

residence. The social worker should explain the

situation in general, describe the layout of the

residence, and specify who is expected to be there.

In this way the police officer and the social worker

can determine a plan of action before arriving at the

scene.



o Any necessary items, such as medication, should be

brought with the child. The key point is that once

the decision to remove a child has been made, the

action should be carried out expeditiously. 



Impact on the Child 



Physical removal from the home is extremely traumatic

for the child. Both the law enforcement officer and

the social worker are relative strangers. They need

to keep the following points in mind:



o Debating the situation with the parent or caretaker

only raises the emotional level of the child. Such

arguments may cause the child to become more nervous,

upset, distraught, and emotionally unstable.



o In most situations, children are not going to leave

their parents willingly, even though they have been

physically or sexually abused. They may not

understand what is best for them and may try to

resist the law enforcement officer. 



o Officers should not respond to a child's outbursts

with anger or displeasure. Instead, they should

behave as positively--or at least neutrally--as

possible. They should do everything they can to help

the child adjust to a new and scary situation.



o Once the officer has removed the child from the

residence and the child has had a chance to calm

down, if the child is old enough to communicate, the

officer should take the time to explain that the

child has not done anything wrong and was removed for

his or her own protection.



Conclusion 



Child abuse is a multidimensional problem that

requires a multidisciplinary, multiagency team

approach for successful intervention. This means 

that all professionals involved--in law enforcement,

child protective services, mental health, medicine,

and the law--communicate and coordinate with one

another. A child's best interest can be served only

when the various professionals that are involved

understand their respective roles, possess knowledge

of their State statutes and local guidelines, and

have adequate training in their respective fields.

Sensitive and consistent application of policies and

procedures established in written protocols is

essential for an effective alliance to combat child

maltreatment.



----------------------







Contributing Authors



Carl B. Hammond

Law Enforcement Consultant/Trainer

P.O. Box 5332

Rockville, MD 20848-5332

301-468-3416



Kenneth V. Lanning, M.S. (Retired)



Wayne Promisel, M.S.

Detective, Child Services Section

Fairfax County Police Department

10600 Page Avenue

Fairfax, VA 22030

703-246-7813



Jack R. Shepherd

Captain

Executive Division

Michigan State Police

714 South Harrison Road

East Lansing, MI 48823

517-336-6552



Bill Walsh

Lieutenant, Dallas Police Department

Youth and Family Crimes Division

106 South Harwood Street, Room 225

Dallas, TX 75201

214-670-5391



-------------------



Supplemental Reading 



Besharov DJ. Combating Child Abuse: Guidelines for

Cooperation Between Law Enforcement and Child

Protective Agencies. Washington, DC: AEI Press, 1990.



Briere J, Berliner L, Bulkley J, Jenny C, Reid T

(eds). APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment. Newbury

Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1996.



Bryan J. Team Investigation in Child Sexual Abuse

Cases: A Desk Reference for Law Enforcement Officers,

Protective Service Workers, and Prosecuting

Attorneys. Little Rock, AR: Arkansas Child Sexual

Abuse Commission, 1987.



Center for the Future of Children. Sexual Abuse of

Children. Newbury Park, CA: Center for the Future of

Children, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation,

1994.



Child Abuse and Neglect State Statute Series. A joint

project of the National Center on Child Abuse and

Neglect (NCCAN) and the National Center for

Prosecution of Child Abuse (NCPCA), this five-volume

series summarizes State statutes on child abuse and

neglect in nontechnical language: Volume I, Reporting

Laws; Volume II, Central Registries; Volume III,

Investigations; Volume IV, Child Witnesses; Volume V,

Crimes. The series is updated annually and is

available from the National Clearinghouse on Child

Abuse and Neglect Information, 800-FYI-3366.



DePanfilis D, Salus MK. A Coordinated Response to

Child Abuse and Neglect: A Basic Manual (The User

Manual Series). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services, Administration on

Children, Youth and Families, National Center on

Child Abuse and Neglect, 1992.



Myers JEB. Legal Issues in Child Abuse and Neglect.

Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1992.



Pence D, Wilson C. The Role of Law Enforcement in the

Response to Child Abuse and Neglect. (The User Manual

Series). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services, Administration for Children and

Families, Administration on Children, Youth, and

Families, National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect,

1992.



Pence D, Wilson C. Team Investigation of Child Sexual

Abuse. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1994.



Shepherd JR, Dworin B, Farley RH, Russ BJ, Tressler

PW, National Center for Missing and Exploited

Children. Child Abuse and Exploitation: Investigative

Techniques. 2d ed. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile

Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1995.



Smith JC, Benton RL, Moore JK, Runyan DK, American

Association for Protecting Children. Understanding

the Medical Diagnosis of Child Maltreatment: A Guide

for Non-Medical Professionals. Englewood, CO:

American Humane Association, 1989.



Whitcomb D. When the Victim is a Child. 2d ed.

Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of

Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice,

1992.



Wycoff MA, Kealoha M. Creating the Multidisciplinary

Response to Child Sex Abuse: An Implementation Guide.

Washington, DC: Police Foundation, 1987.



-------------------



Organizations 



National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse

American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI)

99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 510

Alexandria, VA 22314

703-549-4253

703-549-6259 (fax)



The National Center for the Prosecution of Child

Abuse is a nonprofit and technical assistance

affiliate of APRI. In addition to research and

technical assistance, the Center provides extensive

training on the investigation and prosecution of

child abuse and child deaths. The national trainings

include timely information presented by a variety of

professionals experienced in the medical, legal, and

investigative aspects of child abuse.





Federal Bureau of Investigation

935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Washington, DC 20535-0001

202-324-3000



Forensic examination of evidence can be useful in

cases of child sexual abuse. Tests that may be

considered include:



o DNA profiling of body fluids or biological stains.



o Comparative examination of foreign hairs and fibers

with those of a suspected source.



o Chemical analyses for petroleum jelly or lotion

residues.



Questions on submission of these types of evidence

can be directed to your local crime laboratory or to

the FBI Laboratory at the number given above.



Fox Valley Technical College

Criminal Justice Department

Law Enforcement Training Programs

P.O. Box 2277

1825 North Bluemound Drive

Appleton, WI 54914-2277

800-648-4966

920-735-4757 (fax)



Participants are trained in child abuse and

exploitation investigative techniques, covering the

following areas:



o Recognition of signs of abuse.



o Collection and preservation of evidence.



o Preparation of cases for prosecution.



o Techniques for interviewing victims and offenders.



o Liability issues.



Fox Valley also offers an intensive special training

for local child investigative teams. Teams must

include representatives from law enforcement,

prosecution, social services, and (optionally) the

medical field. Participants take part in hands-on

team activity involving:



o Development of interagency processes and protocols

for enhanced enforcement, prevention, and

intervention in child abuse cases.



o Case preparation and prosecution. 



o Development of the team's own interagency

implementation plan for improved investigation of

child abuse.



National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC)

Training Department

200 Westside Square, Suite 700

Huntsville, AL 35801

256-533-0531



NCAC sponsors satellite video training conferences on

a range of topics. Recent examples include

interviewing children, medical aspects of child

abuse, team-building for multidisciplinary teams, and

the connections between domestic violence and child

sexual abuse. Continuing education credits are

available.



Other Titles in This Series



Currently there are 12 other Portable Guides to

Investigating Child Abuse. To obtain a copy of any of

the guides listed below (in order of publication),

contact the Office of Juvenile Justice and

Delinquency Prevention's Juvenile Justice

Clearinghouse by telephone at 800-638-8736 or e-mail

at puborder@ncjrs.org.



Recognizing When a Child's Injury or Illness Is

Caused by Abuse, NCJ 160938



Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Child Sexual Abuse,

NCJ 160940



Photodocumentation in the Investigation of Child

Abuse, NCJ 160939



Diagnostic Imaging of Child Abuse, NCJ 161235



Battered Child Syndrome: Investigating Physical Abuse

and Homicide, NCJ 161406



Interviewing Child Witnesses and Victims of Sexual

Abuse, NCJ 161623



Child Neglect and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, 

NCJ 161841



Criminal Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse, 

NCJ 162426



Burn Injuries in Child Abuse, NCJ 162424



Understanding and Investigating Child Sexual

Exploitation, NCJ 162427



Forming a Multidisciplinary Team To Investigate Child

Abuse, NCJ 170020



Use of Computers in the Sexual Exploitation of

Children, NCJ 170021



--------------------



*Hammond CB, Poindexter RW, Caimano JV, Kramer LH,

Turman KM, Wilson JJ, Bieck W, Hillsborough County

Sheriff's Office, Tampa, Florida. Crimes Against

Children Crime Analysis Project: Implications and

Findings. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice

and Delinquency Prevention, 1993.



-------------------



Additional Resources



American Bar Association 

 (ABA)

Center on Children and 

 the Law

Washington, DC

202-662-1720

202-662-1755 (fax)



American Humane Association

Englewood, Colorado

800-227-4645

303-792-9900

303-792-5333 (fax) 



American Medical Association 

 (AMA)

Department of Mental Health

Chicago, Illinois

312-464-5000

 (AMA main number)

312-464-4184 (fax)



American Professional Society 

 on the Abuse of Children 

 (APSAC)

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

405-271-8202

405-271-2931 (fax)



Federal Bureau of Investigation 

 (FBI)

National Center for the

 Analysis of Violent Crime

Quantico, Virginia

703-632-4333



Fox Valley Technical College

Criminal Justice Department

Appleton, Wisconsin

800-648-4966

920-735-4757 (fax)



Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse 

 (JJC)

Rockville, Maryland

800-638-8736

301-519-5600 (fax)



Kempe Children's Center

Denver, Colorado

303-864-5252

303-864-5302 (fax)



National Association of Medical 

 Examiners

St. Louis, Missouri

314-577-8298

314-268-5124 (fax)



National Center for Missing 

 and Exploited Children 

 (NCMEC)

Alexandria, Virginia

703-274-3900

703-274-2220 (fax)



National Center for the 

 Prosecution of Child Abuse

Alexandria, Virginia

703-549-4253

703-549-6259 (fax)



National Children's Alliance

Washington, DC

800-239-9950

202-639-0597

202-639-0511 (fax)



National Clearinghouse on 

 Child Abuse and Neglect 

 Information

Washington, DC

800-FYI-3366

703-385-7565

703-385-3206 (fax)



National SIDS Resource 

 Center

Vienna, Virginia

703-821-8955, ext. 249

703-821-2098 (fax)



Prevent Child Abuse America

Chicago, Illinois

800-835-2671

312-663-3520

312-939-8962 (fax)



----------------------



U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Office of Juvenile Justice and 

  Delinquency Prevention

Washington, DC 20531