NCJ Number
124867
Editor(s)
D W Lloyd
Date Published
1990
Length
95 pages
Annotation
Discussions focused on various aspects of ritualistic sexual abuse and were presented by a prosecutor with experience in prosecuting sexual abuse in day care centers, a therapeutic resource program manager for children and families, and counselors at local and State child protective services agencies.
Abstract
The first cycle of the program included an overview of the sexual, physical, and psychological abuse of children by adults engaged in cult worship. The results indicated that extreme form of abuse experienced by the subjects in this study and the increased impact of ritualistic abuse make survivors of ritualistic abuse at risk for psychiatric problems, particularly dissociative disorders including multiple personality. The second cycle discussed the protocols of the multiagency investigation of ritualistic abuse cases which involve multiple victims and multiple offenders. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to assuring a successful investigation that minimizes the trauma to the child victim. The third cycle of presentations examined the relationship between the development of investigative knowledge about violent cults and investigations into ritualized sexual abuse of children. These implications include the need to investigate carefully all bizarre and unusual allegations, to consider professional performance and personal belief systems when building an investigative team, to develop selection and performance criteria for consultants, and to focus on accumulating legally proving or disproving evidence against specific persons. The final cycle stresses the importance of interactional skills and assessment of risk factors for therapists dealing with abused children, as well as principles of effective child protection through the State. Chapter references.