NCJ Number
151324
Date Published
1995
Length
139 pages
Annotation
Designed for professionals who work with child sexual abuse victims, this book provides an introduction and a broad set of guidelines on how to interview children about sexual abuse.
Abstract
The book's purpose is to provide interviewing guidelines that not only will enhance the amount, quality, and validity of information obtained from a child, but will create an environment that minimizes the child's trauma. The material is based on the author's experience as the cocreator of the use of anatomical dolls and on current research. The book begins by describing how the criminal justice system has dealt with child victims and how the anatomical dolls were created as an interviewing tool. It examines the problems professionals face with young children and how preinterview preparation is essential for a successful interview. The author takes the reader through an interview from beginning to end: establishing rapport, avoiding leading questions, deciding whether to use anatomical dolls, how to use dolls appropriately, case law and legal issues, and going to trial. Also included are training exercises, a glossary of terms, 36 references, a 72-item annotated bibliography, and a subject index