NCJ Number
117472
Journal
Michigan Bar Journal Volume: 67 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 491-493
Date Published
1988
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This discussion of child sexual abuse focuses on the main issues and problems that law enforcement personnel and prosecutors must consider when an alleged case of child sexual abuse is considered for prosecution in Michigan.
Abstract
Michigan law generally adequately defines the offense. However, the courts have had difficulty adjusting the rules of evidence to adapt to the psychological reality that delays of weeks to years can occur between the sexual assault and the revelation of the abuse to a third person. Special skill and training are also required to interview a child about sexual abuse. The number of times the child must tell what happened should also be limited. It is important to assess the child early about ability to testify, and corroboration should be obtained if possible. Prosecutors should also recognize that the criteria used for judging the reliability of statements of adults do not fairly apply to those of sexually abused minors. Prosecutors should try to reduce delays in these cases for the sake both of justice and of the mental health of the children. Footnotes.