TITLE:                    Enhancing Children's Memory Through Cognitive Interviewing: An Assessment Technique for Social Work Practice.

 

AUTHOR:               Aldridge, N. C.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1999

 

JOURNAL TITLE:    Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    Georgia Univ., Athens. School of Social Work.

 

SOURCE:                16(2): pp. 101-126;  New York, NY, Kluwer Academic-Human Sciences Press, April 1999

 

ABSTRACT:           This article summarizes current research on cognitive interviewing and discusses the theoretical rationale for the use of the mnemonic strategies, the enhancement in the cognitive interviewing technique, and the modifications and revisions conducted from using the cognitive interview with children ages 7 to 12 years. The cognitive interview is a memory retrieval procedure consisting of four general retrievals mnemonics which was developed to assist police officers in interviewing and interrogating witnesses. The cognitive interview has been accepted as one of the most successful interview techniques used in real-life investigations. The major conclusions drawn from the research are that the cognitive interview can enhance the completeness and accuracy of recollections by children and can offer a valuable technique for social workers interviewing and evaluating children who are victims or witnesses to crimes. 86 references. (Author abstract)

 

KEY TERMS:         memory;  assessment;  cognitive interviews;  child witnesses;  social workers;  investigations;  interviews;  research reviews

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Journal Article

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.wkap.com

 

 

TITLE:                    FALSE ALLEGATIONS AND FALSE MEMORY SYNDROME: Selected Articles.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1999

 

SOURCE:                NCCAN Annotated Bibliographies;  1999

 

KEY TERMS:         false memory syndrome;  trauma;  memory;  social policies;  policy formation;  political factors;  public opinion;  social attitudes;  dissociation;  amnesia;  evidence;  multiple personality disorder;  false allegations;  neurology;  adults abused as children;  repression;  validity;  sexual abuse;  research reviews;  suggestibility;  theories;  therapeutic intervention;  therapists role;  research methodology;  psychotherapy;  models;  mental health;  child witnesses;  child development;  literature reviews;  individual characteristics;  credibility

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Annotated Bibliography

 

INTRODUCTION:    This annotated bibliography is a product of the National Clearinghouse
on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. The references have been selected
from thousands of materials available in our database to provide you with
the most up-to-date information related to child victims, witnesses, and
perpetrators of violence.

This bibliography looks at prevention, intervention and treatment issues
in relation to the impacts of violence on children. It is presented in
three sections: children as victims of violence, children as witnesses of
violence, and children and adolescents as perpetrators of violence.
Although many references cover more than one subject area, each citation
is listed only once in this bibliography, primarily under its major
subject heading.

All documents in this bibliography are contained in the Clearinghouse
library and are referenced following the format of the American
Psychological Association (APA). Authors, titles, publication dates and
publishers are provided within this format for each reference. We are
not, however, able to provide photocopies of all materials due to
copyright restrictions. Copies of publications that are not copyrighted,
such as Government publications, grant reports, or unpublished papers,
are available from the Clearinghouse for a reproduction fee of $0.10 per
page. Journal articles and chapters in books are copyrighted and may be
found at research or university libraries.

Information Specialists can answer questions about copyright status and
ordering information, as well as guide you in selecting materials from
this bibliography or suggest other materials that may be useful to you.
In addition, Specialists are available to conduct customized searches
of Clearinghouse databases for a base fee of $5.00 plus $.20 per record.

For more information, please contact

National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
330 C St., SW
Washington, DC 20447
Tel.:  (800)394-3366 or 703-385-7565
Fax:   703-385-3206
E-mail:   nccanch@calib.com

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.calib.com/nccanch

 

 

TITLE:                    Child Welfare Law Source Book.

 

INST. AUTHOR:    Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor. Child Welfare Law Resource Center.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1998

 

SOURCE:                Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor. Child Welfare Law Resource Center, 1998;  226 pp.

 

ABSTRACT:           This manual outlines Michigan state child welfare laws. Juvenile court rules, miscellaneous court rules, probate code for juveniles, child protection laws, rules of evidence, guardianship, ombudsman procedures, and foster care review board activities are addressed. The child protection law defines abuse and neglect, reporting requirements, evaluation procedures, confidentiality considerations, fatality review team processes, investigations, interviews, legal counsel of child, attorney-client privilege, and consequences for failure to report. Rules of evidence describe requirements for admissible evidence, interrogation and presentation procedures, expert witness testimony, hearsay, and functions of the court and jury.

 

KEY TERMS:         child welfare;  michigan;  state laws;  child protection laws;  rules of evidence;  foster care;  guardianship

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Book

 

 

TITLE:                    Legislation Limiting the Number of Interviews with Child Victims (Current through December 31, 1999): Florida.

 

INST. AUTHOR:    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES;  NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT INFORMATION;  NATIONAL CENTER FOR PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1998

 

JOURNAL TITLE:    Child Witnesses Number 28

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES  Administration for Children and Families  Administration on Children, Youth and Families  Children's Bureau;  NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT INFORMATION  330 C Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20447, (703) 385-7565  Outside Metropolitan Area: (800) FYI-3366;  NATIONAL CENTER FOR PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE  99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 510, Alexandria, VA, 22314, (703) 739-0321

 

SOURCE:                In: Special Procedures in Criminal Child Abuse Cases

 

KEY TERMS:         Statute;  Florida;  Child;  Legislation

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Statutes

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.ndaa-apri.org

 

 

TITLE:                    Parental Accounts Regarding the Physical Punishment of Children: Discourses of Dis/empowerment.

 

AUTHOR:               Gough, B.;  Reavey, P.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1997

 

JOURNAL TITLE:    Child Abuse and Neglect

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    Sheffield Hallam Univ. (Great Britain). School of Health and Community Studies.

 

SOURCE:                21(5): pp. 417-430;  Oxford (Great Britain), Elsevier Science, Ltd., May 1997

 

ABSTRACT:           This study was conducted to identify and examine the rationales used by parents to justify the physical punishment of children (PPC). Semistructured interviews were carried out with nine mothers and one father. The interviews were evaluated using discourse analysis to explore the various and often conflicting discourses used by parents while talking about PPC. Various oppositional discourses were used by the parents, each of which implies diverse justifications and consequences. Four in particular were identified: PPC as pedagogic or educational; cathartic to provide relief; individualistic to assert power; and cyclical. There were five cases of contradiction in discursive context. The authors identify confusion and complexity regarding PPC as evident in parental dialogue, which is marked by discursive variation and contradiction. These discursive collisions notwithstanding, the participants' discourse generally imply the oppressive positioning of children and, consequently, offers support for physical punishment. The study also highlights the utility of discourse analysis as a method for interrogating PPC and other phenomena related to child abuse and neglect. 23 references. (Author abstract modified)

 

KEY TERMS:         corporal punishment;  discipline;  parental behavior;  parental attitudes;  interviews;  child abuse research;  qualitative research

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Journal Article

 

 

TITLE:                    Missing and Abducted Children: A Law Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program Management.

 

AUTHOR:               Steidel, S. E. (Editor).

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1997

 

SOURCE:                Revised. Arlington, VA, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, June 1997;  234 pp.

 

ABSTRACT:           This handbook for law enforcement agencies outlines a step- by-step process for administering and conducting investigations of cases involving missing or abducted children. The manual is used as the primary text for the training program, Basic Investigative Techniques - Missing and Abducted Children, sponsored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The first section provides an overview of law enforcement's role in responding to reports of missing children. Current trends and projects, such as state clearinghouses and multi-disciplinary programs, are discussed. Chapter Two describes each aspect of the initial response, including the administrative component, the first responder component, the investigative component, the supervisory component, and the search component. Specific strategies for investigating cases of nonfamily abduction, family abduction, and runaway children are explained in the next three chapters. An overall checklist is provided in each section. The manual also reviews general investigative techniques and recommends strategies for tracking tips and leads, gathering information, searching the crime scene, using warrants, and conducting interviews and interrogations. Crisis media relations and management issues are also discussed. Numerous references.

 

KEY TERMS:         missing children;  kidnapping;  investigations;  multidisciplinary teams;  police operating procedures;  police role;  police training;  protocols

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Book

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.missingkids.org

 

 

TITLE:                    Legislation Limiting the Number of Interviews with Child Victims (Current through December 31, 1999): West Virginia.

 

INST. AUTHOR:    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES;  NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT INFORMATION;  NATIONAL CENTER FOR PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1997

 

JOURNAL TITLE:    Child Witnesses Number 28

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES  Administration for Children and Families  Administration on Children, Youth and Families  Children's Bureau;  NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT INFORMATION  330 C Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20447, (703) 385-7565  Outside Metropolitan Area: (800) FYI-3366;  NATIONAL CENTER FOR PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE  99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 510, Alexandria, VA, 22314, (703) 739-0321

 

SOURCE:                In: Special Procedures in Criminal Child Abuse Cases

 

KEY TERMS:         Statute;  West Virginia;  Child;  defendant;  Legislation

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Statutes

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.ndaa-apri.org

 

 

TITLE:                    Criminal Investigation of Suspected Child Abuse. Section II: Criminal Investigation of Physical Abuse and Neglect.

 

AUTHOR:               Walsh, B.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1996

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    Dallas Police Dept., TX.

 

SOURCE:                In: Briere, J., Berliner, L., Bulkley, J. A., Jenny, C., et al. (Editors). The APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications, Inc., January 1996;  pp. 264-270

 

ABSTRACT:           This section of a chapter on the criminal investigation of suspected child abuse focuses on physical abuse and neglect. The role of law enforcement personnel in multidisciplinary investigations of child abuse is identified. Challenges to child abuse investigations are highlighted, including determining whether the maltreatment in question qualifies as a criminal act, dealing with the limited number of witnesses to an act of maltreatment, and handling conflicts with child protection services agencies. The investigative process is discussed in terms of conducting interviews with witnesses or others, interrogating a suspected offender, using search warrants as an investigative tool, and conducting a scene investigation. Fatal child maltreatment is also examined, focusing on the differences between fatal child abuse and homicide, the investigation of fatal child maltreatment, and the collection of facts to determine when the fatal injuries could have occurred and whom the child was with during that time. 11 references.

 

KEY TERMS:         investigations;  physical abuse;  physical neglect;  interviews;  evidence;  child fatalities;  interdisciplinary approach

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Chapter in Book

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.sagepub.com

 

 

TITLE:                    Criminal Investigation of Suspected Child Abuse. Section I: Criminal Investigation of Sexual Victimization of Children.

 

AUTHOR:               Lanning, K. V.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1996

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    FBI Academy, Quantico, VA. Behavioral Science Unit.

 

SOURCE:                In: Briere, J., Berliner, L., Bulkley, J. A., Jenny, C., et al. (Editors). The APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications, Inc., January 1996;  pp. 246-264

 

ABSTRACT:           This section of a chapter on the criminal investigation of suspected child abuse focuses on sexual abuse. Problems confronting law enforcement personnel who investigate cases of suspected child sexual abuse are identified. Guidelines are provided for conducting interviews and interrogations, assessing and evaluating the alleged victim's statements, and corroborating allegations of child sexual abuse. Interviewing a child victim involves determining where the child is on the disclosure continuum, establishing rapport, and determining whether or not to videotape the interview. The advantages and disadvantages of videotaping are outlined. Assessing and evaluating the statements of the alleged victim involve determining the accuracy of a child's statement and evaluating indirect sources of information and sources of possible contagion. Corroboration involves documenting behavioral symptoms of sexual abuse and patterns of victim and perpetrator behavior, identifying witnesses and accomplices, and collecting physical evidence. An appendix lists publications for inclusion in the reference library of a law enforcement investigator.

 

KEY TERMS:         investigations;  sexual abuse;  law enforcement;  interviews;  guidelines;  videotaping;  corroboration;  evidence

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Chapter in Book

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.sagepub.com

 

 

TITLE:                    A Decade of International Reform to Accomodate Child Witnesses: Steps Toward a Child Witness Code.

 

AUTHOR:               Myers, J. E. B.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1996

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    University of the Pacific, Sacramento, CA. McGeorge School of Law.

 

SOURCE:                In: Bottoms, B. L. and Goodman, G. S. (Editors). International Perspectives on Child Abuse and Children's Testimony: Psychological Research and Law. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications, Inc., 1996;  pp. 221-265

 

ABSTRACT:           This chapter summarizes changes in court procedures that have been instituted during the past 10 years to accommodate the needs of child witnesses. Reforms in investigative interviews, preparation of the witness, and courtroom techniques are described. The background and effects of the following reforms are discussed in detail: admission of children's hearsay statements; establishment of competency to testify and take the oath; alterations to the courtroom environment; judicial authority over the proceedings and interrogation; support persons for witnesses; closure of the courtroom to the public and the media; video testimony; appointment of a guardian ad litem or advocate for the child; and elimination of the corroboration requirement. The appendix presents a proposed legal code that defines requirements for child witness testimony. Numerous references.

 

KEY TERMS:         court reform;  child witnesses;  testimony;  legal processes;  guidelines;  rules of evidence

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Chapter in Book

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.sagepub.com

 

 

TITLE:                    Civil Law for Law Enforcement Officers.

 

AUTHOR:               McGookey, D. E.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1996

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    Dallas City Dept. of Police, TX. Legal Liaison Division.

 

SOURCE:                In: 1996 Crimes Against Children Seminar. 8th Annual Seminar of the Dallas Dept. of Police; the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, Dallas, TX, July 13-16, 1996;  pp. 298-315

 

ABSTRACT:           Police officers who investigate child abuse cases may be involved in two types of lawsuits: professional liability and civil disputes between a child and a child care facility. Federal and Texas state laws regarding both situations are outlined in this paper. Under federal law, police officers can be held liable for their actions as representatives of the government if the constitutional rights of the plaintiff were violated. The most common constitutional violations in child abuse cases involve false arrest or imprisonment; excessive force; illegal searches; and illegal interrogation. In defense, an officer may claim qualified immunity if he or she can demonstrate that the actions were reasonable at the time. Causes of action under Texas state law include negligence, defamation, and invasion of privacy. Because police officers are covered under the Texas Tort Claims Act, legal actions require a waiver of liability. Police officers may also be required to provide evidence from their investigations in civil child abuse cases. Requests for copies of investigative files usually exempt confidential information about on-going investigations, closed or suspended cases, and juvenile suspects. Requirements of subpoena dueces tecum and subpoenas for depositions of the investigator are described.

 

KEY TERMS:         police responsibility;  police training;  police operating procedures;  police reports;  investigations;  civil liability;  texas

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Proceedings Paper

 

 

TITLE:                    1996 Crimes Against Children Seminar.

 

INST. AUTHOR:    Dallas Children's Advocacy Center; Dallas City Dept. of Police, TX.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1996

 

SOURCE:                8th Annual Seminar of the Dallas City Dept. of Police; the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, Dallas, TX, July 16-19, 1996;  634 pp.

 

ABSTRACT:           The participant's manual from the 1996 Crimes Against Children Seminar presented by the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center contains handouts and background information for each presentation. The conference included more than 50 workshops on offender typology, interview techniques, diagnosis of physical and sexual abuse, prevention, investigation procedures, interrogation of suspects, child death reviews, shaken baby syndrome, multidisciplinary teams, post- traumatic stress disorder, civil law, cross examination, domestic violence, prosecution, and medical aspects of child abuse.

 

KEY TERMS:         characteristics of abuser;  investigations;  interviews;  symptoms;  sequelae;  medical aspects of child abuse;  child protection

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Book

 

 

TITLE:                    The Role of Law Enforcement in the Investigation of Child Maltreatment.

 

AUTHOR:               Kolilis, G. H.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1996

 

SOURCE:                In: Monteleone, J. A. Recognition of Child Abuse for the Mandated Reporter. Second Edition. St. Louis, MO, G. W. Medical Publishing, 1996;  pp. 161-170

 

ABSTRACT:           This chapter provides guidelines for police investigations of child maltreatment. Methods for gathering information from interviews with children and witnesses, interrogations of suspected perpetrators, and examinations of the scene of the event are specifically recommended. In general, police officers should ensure that all available background information is obtained and that interviews are conducted as soon after the event as possible and out of contact from other victims, witnesses, or suspected perpetrators. Questions should be clear and simple and avoid suggestibility. When interrogating the suspected perpetrator, investigators are advised to be honest about the purpose of the interview, while showing empathy and cooperation. Event scene procedures and report preparation are briefly discussed. The chapter includes a list of questions that can be asked of the child victim and a preliminary investigative checklist. 2 tables.

 

KEY TERMS:         law enforcement;  police action;  investigations;  multidisciplinary teams;  police operating procedures;  police role;  interviews

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Chapter in Book

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.gwmedical.com

 

 

TITLE:                    Child Sexual Abuse: Investigations in Israel.

 

AUTHOR:               Sternberg, K. J.;  Lamb, M. E.;  Hershkowitz, I.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1996

 

JOURNAL TITLE:    Criminal Justice and Behavior

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (DHHS), Bethesda, MD.

 

SOURCE:                23(2): pp. 322-337;  Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications, Inc., June 1996

 

ABSTRACT:           This article describes how allegations of child sexual abuse are investigated and adjudicated in Israel. Believing that children may well be harmed by repeated interrogation, demands to testify, and cross-examination, Israel legislators enacted special provisions several decades ago to ensure that children were spared these traumas. Recent evaluations of the system they established suggest that the protections may have led inadvertently to various practices, including the failure to prosecute, that have not served children well. Possible remedies and a research program related to these issues are described. 39 references. (Author abstract)

 

KEY TERMS:         sexual abuse;  investigations;  israel;  interviews;  child witnesses;  legal processes;  prosecution;  rules of evidence

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Journal Article

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.sagepub.com

 

 

TITLE:                    The Use of Search Warrants in Cases of Crimes Against Children.

 

AUTHOR:               Walsh, B.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1995

 

JOURNAL TITLE:    APSAC Advisor

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    Dallas Police Dept., TX. Child Exploitation Unit.

 

SOURCE:                8(1): pp. 3-7;  Chicago, IL, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Spring 1995

 

ABSTRACT:           This article familiarizes law enforcement personnel with the use of search warrants during the investigation of child maltreatment cases. Various uses of search warrants are discussed, including recovering physical evidence from a location, vehicle, object, or person; corroborating a child's testimony; identifying other victims or other offenders; recovering contraband or other evidence of criminal activities; photographing an injured child; providing for the arrest of a suspect; gathering information for the interrogation and the child interview; and seizing a computer and examining its files. Practical considerations are also presented, including taking action quickly so that the chance of recovering evidence is greatest; having the owner, landlord, or person in charge of a property sign a consent to search form; photographing or videotaping the location before, during, and after the search; taking all videotapes listed as evidence for viewing at a later time; supplying up-to-date information in the affidavit for the search warrant; and conducting the search with officer safety in mind. 4 references.

 

KEY TERMS:         law enforcement;  investigations;  direct evidence;  medical evidence;  evidence collection;  photographs;  sexual abuse;  physical abuse

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Journal Article

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.apsac.org

 

 

TITLE:                    The Child Fatality Review Team Workshop 1995.

 

INST. AUTHOR:    Texas Child Fatality Review Team, Austin.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1995

 

SOURCE:                Texas Children's Justice Act Task Force, Austin, 1995;  160 pp.

 

ABSTRACT:           This manual describes the multidisciplinary approach to child fatality investigations in Texas. Law enforcement investigation procedures are outlined, including interrogation strategies. Texas Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation procedures are examined with an emphasis on interagency cooperation. The roles of CPS professionals, law enforcement officials, educators, health care providers, mental health professionals, legal and judicial system professionals, and support services providers are explained. The manual also reviews procedures for child death inquests, reviews of complex cases, prosecution, and death certification. The Child Fatality Review Team Project Handbook is included in the final section. Statistical data from 1993 are reported in Section Seven. 7 figures and 2 tables.

 

KEY TERMS:         child fatalities;  child death review boards;  guidelines;  multidisciplinary teams;  team training;  texas

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Book

 

 

TITLE:                    Legislation Limiting the Number of Interviews with Child Victims (Current through December 31, 1999): Alabama.

 

INST. AUTHOR:    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES;  NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT INFORMATION;  NATIONAL CENTER FOR PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1995

 

JOURNAL TITLE:    Child Witnesses Number 28

 

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES  Administration for Children and Families  Administration on Children, Youth and Families  Children's Bureau;  NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT INFORMATION  330 C Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20447, (703) 385-7565  Outside Metropolitan Area: (800) FYI-3366;  NATIONAL CENTER FOR PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE  99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 510, Alexandria, VA, 22314, (703) 739-0321

 

SOURCE:                In: Special Procedures in Criminal Child Abuse Cases

 

KEY TERMS:         Statute;  Alabama;  Child;  Legislation

 

PUBLICATION TYPE:         Statutes

 

INTERNET URL:   http://www.ndaa-apri.org

 

 

TITLE:                    Successful Interrogation in Child Abuse Cases.

 

AUTHOR:               Walsh, B.

 

PUBLICATION YEAR:        1994

 

SOURCE:                Conference on Responding to Child Maltreatment, San Diego, CA, January 1994;  19 pp.

 

ABSTRACT:           This report outlines how to interrogate suspects, in general, and in child abuse cases, in particular. An investigator should seek to complete 2 goals during an interrogation: to manipulate and persuade the suspect to cooperate to tell the truth and to ensure that everything is performed within the suspect's legal rights. The differences between an interview and an interrogation are outlined, and the characteristics of a successful interrogator are listed in terms of appearance, appropriate posture, attitude, voice, facial expressions, and flexibility. Steps are given for interview preparation, and a suggested interrogation routine and strategy are outlined as well as how best to obtain a confession and obtain it in writing. Special themes for use in child abuse interrogations include blaming the victim, the child's parents, outside influences, or a spouse. Suggested actions for after the interrogation and results of not obtaining a confession are also outlined.

 

KEY TERMS:         investigations;  perpetrators;  legal processes;  prosecution;  evidence;  professionals responsibility

 

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