NCJ Number
96555
Date Published
1984
Length
315 pages
Annotation
Written for the practitioner who deals with abused children, this text presents an overview of current research concerning intrafamily sexual abuse and discusses the systems approach to the investigation and assessment of child sexual abuse.
Abstract
The need for police officers to be trained in questioning child victims is emphasized, and modeling clay, artwork, dollhouses, and hypnosis are considered as interview aids. The role of the medical profession in examining suspected cases of sexual abuse and reporting those cases to the proper authorities is discussed. The components of the medical exam are delineated; samples that may be needed for laboratory testing, including blood, saliva, clothing, and fibers and foreign materials, are outlined. Arguments for and against court involvement in cases of child sexual abuse are presented, and attention focuses on removal of the child from the home and on juvenile court procedures. Further, the Incest-Diversion Program of Dayton, Ohio, developed in 1977 to deal with the problem of incest, is analyzed. The text highlights cues that indicate sexual abuse is occurring and supplies histories taken from, or written by, former incest and molestation victims. Additionally, the trauma experienced by a mother of two children who were victims of an incestuous relationship with their stepfather is chronicled. Suggestions are presented for determining when counseling is needed for parents of sexual abuse victims, and various counseling options are outlined. Finally, steps that parents and society can take to prevent child sexual abuse are presented. A sample questionnaire, sexual abuse resources, and approximately 100 references are included.