Forensic, Cultural, and Systems Issues in Child Sexual Abuse CasesPart 1: An Introduction

• NCJ Number: 232703
• Journal: Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 19 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2010 Pages: 485-490
• Author(s): Amy C. Tishelman; Robert Geffner
• Date Published: September 2010
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For additional articles in this special issue see NCJ-232704-08.

Annotation

This article examines forensic, cultural, and systems issues in child sexual abuse cases.

Abstract

This article introduces the first in a two-part special issue focusing on forensic, cultural, and systems issues in child sexual abuse cases. The five articles contained in this issue include a diversity of perspectives on approaches to extended interviews and evaluations of child sexual abuse suspicions, an exploration of the ways culture affects child sexual abuse disclosure and reporting, considerations relevant to the management of a child's mental health needs while forensic process are ongoing, and the use of anatomical dolls in forensic interviews. We call for attention to several practice areas, including (a) prioritizing a child's mental health needs while minimizing disruption of forensic processes, (b) developing best practices and models of child sexual abuse assessment and evaluation when a one-session forensic interview is insufficient, (c) appropriately evaluating child sexual abuse concerns when they occur without a disclosure and/or in children with communication limitations, and (d) the integration of cultural sensitivity into interviews and evaluations. References (Published Abstract)