NCJ Number
55548
Date Published
1977
Length
387 pages
Annotation
MATERIALS DESIGNED TO HELP PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO THE PROBLEMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE MATERIALS PREPARED WERE ORGINALLY FOR FIVE CHILD ABUSE SEMINARS HELD UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE NATIONAL COLLEGE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. MEDICAL INFORMATION INCLUDES AN ILLUSTRATED OUTLINE OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT; GUIDELINES USED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN IDENTIFYING, REPORTING, AND MANAGING ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES; FORMS USED TO RECORD EXAMINATIONS OF INJURED CHILDREN; AND PROCEDURES USED BY FORENSIC EXAMINERS WHEN ABUSE OR NEGLECT IS SUSPECTED AS THE CAUSE OF DEATH. OTHER MATERIALS COVER THE PSYCHODYNAMICS OF ABUSING AND NEGLECTING FAMILIES, THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE INVESTIGATION OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER RELATIVE TO SUCH INVESTIGATIONS. ALSO INCLUDED ARE MATERIALS ON CHILD ABUSE REPORTING STATUTES, THE ROLE OF THE JUVENILE COURT JUDGE IN DEALING WITH ABUSE AND NEGLECT, TRIAL-RELATED ISSUES (MEDICAL EVIDENCE, DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE, CHILD WITNESSES, PRIOR ACTS OF ABUSING PARENTS), AND WARDSHIP PROCEEDINGS. MATERIALS DEALING WITH THE PROSECUTION OF ADULTS FOR CHILD ABUSE INCLUDE SUGGESTIONS FOR MAXIMIZING THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION, EXCERPTS FROM A PROSECUTOR'S EXAMINATION OF AN EXPERT WITNESS IN A CHILD ABUSE CASE AND A GLOSSARY OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT TERMINOLOGY. THE FINAL PAPER DESCRIBES THE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH TO DEALING WITH ABUSE AND NEGLECT. MOST OF THE MATERIALS ARE IN THE FORM OF OUTLINES USED IN SEMINAR WORKSHOPS. (LKM)