NCJ Number
117253
Editor(s)
J C Coleman
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This interview article outlines procedures for police to use in conducting a child molestation investigation.
Abstract
Investigators should know that children are normally reliable witnesses on the issue of their own sexual abuse, and they usually tell the truth about nine times out of ten. With proper questions, an investigator can determine whether the child has actually experienced abuse. One reason molestation cases are difficult to uncover is that people are reluctant to admit that an adult would perpetrate such a reprehensible crime upon a child. Therefore, they tend to deny that people -- sometimes well-respected citizens -- could be child molesters. To counteract this tendency, investigators should look for multiple victims and carry out background checks on suspects. Police officers should try to get convictions for child molestation because failure to convict enables the molester to carry out other crimes against children. Prosecutors who specialize in child molestation cases and law enforcement officers are best equipped to deal with this specialized crime. The interview procedure will be continued in next month's issue.