NCJ Number
46828
Date Published
1977
Length
149 pages
Annotation
THIS SERIES OF PAPERS FROM A TRAINING COURSE FOR PERSONNEL IN THE OFFICE OF A DISTRICT ATTORNEY GIVES AN OVERVIEW OF CHILD ABUSE, SUMMARIZES THE LAW, AND PROVIDES GUIDELINES ON PREPARING A CHILD ABUSE CASE.
Abstract
A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, INCLUDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE SYNDROME, IS FIRST PRESENTED. THE SEMINAR FOCUSES ON REPORTING LAWS, IDENTIFICATION OF ABUSE, AND EVIDENCE NECESSARY FOR THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES. SEVERAL CHARTS LIST OBSERVABLE SYMPTOMS, ASSOCIATED SIGNS OF ABUSE, SIGNS OF PHYSICAL NEGLECT, CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSING PARENTS, AND TYPES OF FRACTURES MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH ABUSE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ABUSE AND CONGENITAL PROBLEMS IS DISCUSSED. DISTINGUISHING FACTORS IN SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME, WHICH IS NOT ABUSE OR NEGLECT, ARE DESCRIBED. THE ROLE OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT IN HANDLING A DEPENDENCY CASE, THE USE OF OTHER SOCIAL AGENCIES IN DETERMINING EXTENT OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT, AND THE USE OF EXPERT TESTIMONY ARE COVERED. GUIDELINES ARE GIVEN FOR PRETRIAL QUESTIONING OF PARENTS OR OTHERS SUSPECTED OF CHILD ABUSE. PREPARATION OF THE CASE, INCLUDING ADMISSIBLE AND NONADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE, IS DISCUSSED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE APPLICABLE LAWS FROM THE CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL CODE (INCLUDING LAWS ON CHILD MOLESTATION), COURT DECISIONS SUPPORTING VARIOUS POINTS ARISING IN CHILD ABUSE CASES, A SAMPLE 'POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF A MOTION TO INTRODUCE PHOTOGRAPHS' FROM A CALIFORNIA CASE (WHICH CITES NUMEROUS JUDICIAL DECISIONS): AND AN OUTLINE OF INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES, SEVERAL OF THE PAPERS HAVE REFERENCES. (GLR)