Criminal and Civil Court Coordination (From Papers From a National Conference on Legal Reforms in Child Sexual Abuse Cases, March 1985, Josephine Bulkley, ed. -- See NCJ-107173)

• NCJ Number: 107175
• Author(s): N Post
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-107173.

Annotation

In 1984, the Philadelphia Support Center for Child Advocates, which provides legal and social services for abused and neglected children sought to reduce trauma to child sexual abuse victims involved in civil and criminal courts.

Abstract

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office selected 75 cases for representation based on severity, lack of caretaker cooperation, and involvement in civil and criminal courts. Data reveal that the lack of coordination in bringing child sexual abuse cases to trial in criminal and civil courts results in sexually abused children being left unprotected from additional abuse while their cases are pending. When civil and criminal proceedings proceed simultaneously, confusing treatment plans are often administered which cause abuser recidivism. Preliminary study results note that 40 new volunteer attorneys have been trained to act as advocates for children involved in criminal and civil court. The center has successfully taken on 30 of the targeted cases and protected the children from their alleged abusers.