NCJ Number
153322
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1995) Pages: 71-82
Date Published
1995
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Increased professional concern regarding the evaluation of suspected child sexual abuse has focused the attention of clinicians and researchers on the statements and behaviors of children during investigative interviews.
Abstract
In order to research and establish characteristics of valid child sexual abuse cases, corroboration must be accomplished independent of characteristics of the victim's statements and behaviors. Independent corroboration can come from medical evidence, eyewitness reports, photographic evidence, and offender confession. Three studies that examined interview findings in cases where there was an independent measure of sexual abuse indicate the potential utility of this type of research in establishing clinical characteristics of some child sexual abuse cases. Further research should be conducted that employs independent measures of child sexual abuse other than offender confession. It should be possible to develop an index of apparent validity, comprised of multiple independent indicators of child sexual abuse, and then to examine child interview findings in high probability cases. Such research needs to be conducted at multiple sites with varied populations so that differences by age, gender, and ethnicity can be adequately explored. 58 references and 1 table