NCJ Number
146978
Journal
RCMP Gazette Volume: 55 Issue: 12 Dated: (1993) Pages: 6-9
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Before prosecutors can decide whether to press charges in a child sexual abuse case, they must have the results of a complete and thorough investigation. Once a case is filed, it is difficult to add new discovered evidence, without raising charges of tainted or coached counts and arousing jury suspicion.
Abstract
There are several components of a complete child sexual abuse investigation. The first is the police report, which should be supplemented by crime reports, arrest reports, booking forms, detective follow-up reports, dispatch records, officers' notes, and prior reports involving interested parties. Other components of the file include 911 tapes, medical records, criminal histories, child welfare records, school records, statements by the defendant, and first complaint statements. The most important filing tool is the child victim interview. In addition to supplying the facts surrounding the case, the interview should provide sufficient information to deal with issues of witness qualification, number of counts, special allegations, statute of limitations, witness bias, and language and cultural issues.