Child sexual abuse investigations: Testing documentation methods
Date
2001
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Publisher
Washington State Institute for Public Policy
Abstract
Substantial consensus now exists in the field that interviews of children suspected of having been sexually abused are best documented using a method that allows others to evaluate the interview process, as well as the children’s statements. It is important, however, to place documentation into an appropriate context. Interviews with children about alleged sexual abuse have been singled out as of particular importance to the public and the legislature. This attention has created the unfortunate impression that statements of children of all ages about sexual abuse are particularly suspect and require special procedures, as compared with statements of children about other forms of abuse, as well as the statements of adults about other crimes. Professionals charged with the responsibility of protecting sexually abused children are understandably concerned about the policies that unjustifiably reinforce biases against children reporting sexual abuse. While the scientific literature has shown that young children are especially vulnerable to interview influences, there is no evidence that older children or adolescents, as a group, differ from adults in their capacity to give accurate accounts of experiences. In fact, older adults appear to share similarities of some memory weaknesses with very young children. It is, therefore, important to consider the policy implications about interview documentation that apply only to children who may have been sexually abused. Children who have actually been sexually abused should not be at a greater disadvantage in terms of protection and justice than children or adults who have been victimized in other ways. This study of interview documentation methods, therefore, should be interpreted not as commentary on sexual abuse reports and investigations per se but instead be considered more generally, in terms of interviews with children about possible abuse experiences. The results may also apply to interviews with teenagers and adults who are victims or witnesses to crimes. (Author Executive Summary)
Description
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Keywords
child abuse, interviewing, records, documentation, assessment, research
Citation
Berliner, Lucy ; Lieb, Roxanne. (2001). Child sexual abuse investigations: Testing documentation methods. Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy.