NCJ Number
66150
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
TO AID POLICE INVESTIGATORS, THIS SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION DISCUSSES CHILD MOLESTERS AND THEIR VICTIMS, DESCRIBES THE PROCEDURAL PHASES INVOLVED IN A REPRESENTATIVE CASE, AND OFFERS PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS TO AID POLICE.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH CHILD MOLESTERS BELONG TO ALL RACES, ALL LEVELS OF SOCIETY, AND ALL LEVELS OF INTELLIGENCE, THEY ARE USUALLY MALES RANGING IN AGE FROM 17 TO 68 YEARS WHO TYPICALLY CHOOSE VICTIMS FROM THEIR OWN RACE. MANY OF THESE MEN ARE SENILE OR MENTALLY IMMATURE. MOREOVER, MOST VICTIMS RECOGNIZE THE MOLESTERS AS FAMILY MEMBERS, TRUSTED NEIGHBORS OR BABYSITTERS, OR SCHOOL TEACHERS. CHILDREN BETWEEN 9 AND 12 YEARS SEEM TO BE THE MOST FREQUENT VICTIMS. INVESTIGATIONS OF SUCH CASES INVOLVE INTERVIEWS WITH VICTIMS, THEIR PARENTS, AND POTENTIAL WITNESSES; COLLECTIONS OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FROM VICTIMS' CLOTHING AND A MEDICAL EXAMINATION; SEARCHES OF THE CRIME SCENE; CANVASSING THE AREA, PARTICULARLY FOR EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY; CHECKING CRIMINAL RECORDS (I.E., THE METHOD OF OPERATION FILE AND PHOTOGRAPHS); HANDLING SUSPECTS; AND PREPARING THE VICTIM/WITNESS FOR THE TRIAL. ADVICE IS GIVEN TO INVESTIGATORS FOR EACH PHASE OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES THAT POLICE ADOPT A SYMPATHETIC APPROACH TO BOTH THE DISTRAUGHT VICTIM AND THE SUSPECT. AN INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE AND STUDY NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)