NCJ Number
128323
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1991) Pages: 21-23
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The experience of the efforts to investigate and prosecute alleged cases of child sexual abuse in Jordan, Minnesota in 1984 demonstrates the importance of thorough, competent investigations using the skills and understanding of a specialist.
Abstract
The Jordan case resulted in charges against 24 citizens but only one trial, which resulted in an acquittal. Following that case, the county attorney dismissed charges against 21 other accused persons. One person pled guilty; others received immunity and entered into treatment. The case resulted in increased efforts regarding the rights of the accused and the training of criminal justice personnel. The experience also showed that law enforcement officers trained in conventional investigative methods, but lacking specialized training are poorly equipped to conduct a proper investigation of a child abuse case. A growing number of jurisdictions, including Los Angeles and Vancouver, Washington, have established either specialized police investigation teams or teams of social workers with added training in police techniques. For such approaches to be effective, law enforcement administrators and prosecutors must make the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases a high priority.