NCJ Number
238410
Date Published
2001
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This discussion guide provides discussion questions and supplementary material intended to accompany a video that portrays the process for making an emergency removal from his/her home of an alleged child sexual abuse victim when the alleged perpetrator is a family member living in the same home, with attention to the relevant law and regulations of South Carolina.
Abstract
In South Carolina, law enforcement agencies have the legal authority to order emergency protective custody that can involve removing from his/her home a child believed to be at high risk for victimization from another resident of the home. The goal of the training conducted with the aid of a video and this associated discussion guide is to assist both law enforcement officers and case workers from child protective services make better decisions about such emergency removals. When this training is completed, participants should be able to define the duties of the law enforcement officer and the caseworker in managing emergency protective custody. They should also know how to evaluate the potential risk to children in removing them from their homes. In addition, trainees will know the requirements in South Carolina's Children's Code for procedures involved in initiating emergency protective custody for children. Further, trainees will learn how to conduct an emergency removal that minimizes trauma to the child. The video that is shown to trainees at the outset of the training session depicts a fictional case that shows an officer and a caseworker discussing the pros and cons of emergency protective custody. The video then presents information on issues involved in deciding to initiate emergency protective custody for a child and how such a removal should be coordinated in the best interest of the child.