Subjective and Non-subjective Information in Children’s Allegations of Abuse

The present study examined the effects of interviewer support on the memory and suggestibility of children (N = 71), all of whom were involved in child maltreatment investigations. This was accomplished by questioning 3- to 12-year olds (66% African American) about a game played individually with an experimenter at the end of the maltreatment investigation, so that the results did not affect any evaluations or legal proceedings. After the game, the children were interviewed in a warm and engaging high support manner or in a relatively formal and withdrawn low support fashion--the latter, likely considered by some as “neutral” in child forensic interviews. Typical age effects emerged overall; for example, with the preschool (compared to school-aged) children providing fewer correct units of information in free recall and making more errors to specific and misleading questions. However, findings also varied in relation to interviewer support and type of question. To specific questions, older (but not younger) children in the low (compared to high) interviewer support condition made more omission errors, possibly due to the interviewer’s low support resulting in a “no bias” for older children in answering these questions. To misleading questions, younger (but not older) children in the high (compared to low) support condition made significantly more commission errors. The elevated commission error rate in the high support group appeared to be driven by a small number of 3- and 4-year-olds who had a “yes-bias” when answering misleading questions. Implications for children’s accuracy in maltreatment investigations and for children’s psychological and physical security are discussed.

Knowledge of children’s memory and forensic interviewing skills are crucial in child abuse investigations. Safe Home is the Dutch hotline where both professionals and citizens can report concerns about child abuse or domestic violence. Professionals at Safe Home often serve as first responders to determine the need for a child abuse investigation, protective measures and/or further police investigation. In this study, child protection professionals (N = 158) employed at Safe Home (i.e., behavioral scientists, medical doctors, and social workers) completed an online survey on beliefs about memory functioning and forensic interviewing. In line with earlier studies, we expected to find a lack of knowledge about memory functioning among Safe Home workers. Furthermore, we expected limited use of forensic interviewing methods that have received empirical support. Indeed, we found many professionals endorsed beliefs not in line with current memory research, especially beliefs about repressed and recovered memories. Still, high percentages of professionals also reported memory beliefs related to false memory formation and suggestion that were in line with scientific evidence. Some professionals reported using interviewing methods for which there is no empirical validation. Because child protection professionals are often the first to interview children about allegations of abuse, the current findings identify a need for training in child forensic interviewing, including knowledge of human memory.

A Narrative Literature Review was conducted providing a comprehensive overview of children’s barriers to disclose during investigations of child abuse. Patterns in the literature were categorized as themes and include: rapport and relationship with the interviewer, feeling in control and prepared, communication, physical abilities, mental health, environment, family dynamics, culture and individual uniqueness. Using a combination of a critical analyses approach and drawing from personal background experiences and knowledge in working with children during disclosures, the themes are expanded upon as a discussion that explores what children may therapeutically need during their disclosures of abuse within the forensic interview. Some practice implications are incorporated with the intent to generate further thinking about addressing children’s needs during investigations of child abuse. Working with multidisciplinary teams in Child and Youth Advocacy Centres is discussed and may be a resource for understanding children’s needs during disclosures of abuse.

Investigations of child maltreatment often involve domestic violence, but there is little guidance about how to properly assess risk in such cases. Empirically validated risk assessment tools have been used successfully in child welfare and, to a lesser extent, in cases involving domestic violence, but these have generally not been utilized in tandem. Using the allegation of child maltreatment as the entry point for services, this paper proposes a nested risk assessment framework whereby risk of both child maltreatment and domestic violence are considered simultaneously using two different standardized instruments. KEY WORDS: child abuse, domestic violence, risk assessment

Sex differences in the roles of nicotine use and puberty on youth C-reactive protein levels: Effects above and beyond adversity

Interdisciplinary collaboration needed in obtaining high-quality medical information in child abuse investigations.

PurposeThe purpose of the current study was two‐fold: to explore police officers' perceptions of the daily challenges involved in child abuse investigation and how those challenges affect their ability to undertake child abuse investigations, and to explore how these challenges are managed on a daily basis.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a qualitative research design. In‐depth interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of 25 police officers working in child abuse units across three Australian states.FindingsInductive thematic analysis revealed that heavy caseload and collaboration with other professional groups are two key sources of negative work stress frequently associated with child abuse investigation. Further, despite the provision of organisational strategies aimed at reducing work stress, the officers tended to rely predominantly on informal coping mechanisms.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has raised many questions for further research aimed at developing interventions to assist police organisations in managing work stress.Originality/valueThis paper provides an in‐depth analysis of the key challenges associated with child abuse investigation and the coping mechanisms employed for overcoming these challenges from the unique perspective of police officers authorised to investigate child abuse.

Child sexual abuse is a multifaceted issue that negatively affects the lives of millions of children worldwide. These children suffer numerous medical and psychological long-term adverse effects both in childhood and adulthood. It is imperative to implement evidence- based interventions for the investigation of this crime. The use of Child Advocacy Centers and the multidisciplinary team approach may improve the investigation of child sexual abuse. To evaluate the effectiveness of Child Advocacy Centers and the multidisciplinary team approach on prosecution rates of alleged sex offenders and satisfaction of non-offending caregivers of children less than 18 years of age, with allegations of child sexual abuse. Children under 18 years, of any race, ethnicity or gender with allegations of child sexual abuse. Other participants included in this review are non-offending caregivers of children with allegations of child sexual abuse, and alleged sex offenders. Type of intervention : The use of Child Advocacy Centers and the multidisciplinary team approach on child sexual abuse investigations. Types of outcomes : Prosecution rates of alleged sex offenders and the satisfaction of non-offending caregivers of children with allegations of child sexual abuse. Types of studies: This review includes quasi-experimental and descriptive studies. The search strategy aimed to find published and unpublished articles in the English language published from 1985 through April 2015 for inclusion. The databases searched include: PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Criminal Justice Periodicals, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses and Criminal Justice Collections. An additional grey literature search was conducted. Two reviewers evaluated the included studies for methodological quality using standardized critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Data were extracted using standardized data extraction instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Due to heterogeneity between the included studies, statistical meta-analysis was not possible. Results are presented in a narrative form. The use of Child Advocacy Centers and the multidisciplinary team approach in child sexual abuse investigation may have positive benefits in increasing non-offending caregivers' satisfaction and prosecution rates of alleged sex offenders. Utilization of Child Advocacy Centers and the multidisciplinary team approach for child sexual abuse investigations may be beneficial in improving prosecution rates and the experiences of families involved. The use of satisfaction surveys for non-offending caregivers may be an effective tool to evaluate the satisfaction with services rendered by Child Advocacy Centers. Findings from this review may help to guide reforms. It is hoped that client satisfaction may lead to or improve utilization of services important for the healing process of victims of abuse. Child Advocacy Center multidisciplinary team interventions may improve prosecution rates and satisfaction of non-offending caregiver’ in children less than 18 years of age with allegations of child sexual abuse (Grade B). When available, children with allegations of child sexual abuse should be referred to Child Advocacy Centers for evaluation (Grade B). The use of non-offending caregiver satisfaction survey is recommended to evaluate the ongoing effectiveness of the Child Advocacy Centers multidisciplinary team approach. The quality improvement process will help measure the quality of care rendered by a Child Advocacy Centers and identify areas in need of improvement so a Child Advocacy Centers can continue to provide optimal care in the investigation of child sexual abuse while improving the utilization of services important for the healing process for victims of abuse (Grade B). Future studies may consider interventions that include greater sample size and more diverse ethnic groups to promote generalizability of findings.

Case Study: Allegations of Abuse Created in a Single Interview

False allegations of abuse and neglect when parents separate

Adolescent girls investigated for sexual abuse: history, physical findings and legal outcome

Summary Heidi Koseda starved to death in a back bedroom while relatives and neighbours tried fruitlessly to alert social workers to their concerns about her. Darren Clarke's relatives also failed to get the help they wanted from the police, NSPCC, and Social Services when they feared for his safety. These children's deaths produced great public distress not only because of their horrifying form but because it seemed that they could have been and should have been prevented. The public services involved in cases like these came in for angry criticism. Consequently, each service has brought in changes designed to improve their response to allegations of child abuse, hoping to avoid the mistakes made in these tragedies. For social workers, the changes have taken the form of highly formalised procedures governing their practice. Practitioners in child protection work have more guidelines, handbooks and procedure manuals than any of their colleagues in other social work specialisms. This marks a substantial cha...

PurposeDrawing on the literature from the field and the recent experience of an evaluation into a child abuse investigation in Scotland, the purpose of this paper is to argue that evidence from the literature suggests that a more holistic approach drawing on the ideas of communities of practice could improve the way in which child abuse investigations are conducted.Design/methodology/approachThis paper has been informed by a recent evaluation of a new national unit that was set up to investigate suspected child abuse in Scotland. This unit was established as part of the transition from eight regional police services in Scotland to a single national police service, Police Scotland. An important part of this evaluation was to consider the messages from previous research into the development of national police units and the role of the police in child protection investigations more generally.FindingsWhat was uncovered were the challenges that police officers face in the current context of child abuse investigation particularly around construction of child abuse investigations, collaborative working, staff well-being and training.Practical implicationsThe practical implications of this paper are as follows: police investigations into child abuse experience a range of issues, multi-agency and holistic approaches are more effective, agencies should be encouraged to establish communities of practice and staff need adequate levels of support and training.Originality/valueThis paper contributes towards a growing body of work examining the way in which child abuse investigations are conducted by police and the importance of inter-agency collaboration to support this. It contributes to academic debates and knowledge of the overall investigation process where, to date, there has been a paucity of literature and research that has tended to focus on evidence and experiences and to a boarder literature recognising the need for holistic approaches to tackle child abuse.

Working with victims and offenders of child abuse can impact on the health and well-being of police officers and staff. To identify the effects of tenure, work ability, gender and a personal experience of child abuse on symptoms of anxiety, depression and primary and secondary trauma in child abuse investigators (CAIs). Screening questionnaires were sent to police officers and staff. The officers and staff worked in child protection in seven police forces. The surveillance was undertaken online and the data were encrypted and personal identifiers removed. The four clinical measures were Goldberg Anxiety/Depression Scale, Professional Quality of Life and Impact of Events (extended). Eighty-two per cent of 2798 CAIs returned questionnaires. There was a statistically significant relationship between all four clinical symptoms and workability (P < 0.001), between tenure and primary trauma (P < 0.01) and between anxiety, depression, primary trauma and workability and adverse childhood experience (ACE) scores (P < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that workability, tenure and ACE scores explained between 12 and 23% of the variance. There were gender differences with women having higher levels of symptoms; however, the effect size and clinical significance were negligible for all but the primary trauma scores. Psychological surveillance can provide an important source of evidence for occupational health practitioners working with CAIs in informing them of the factors which could be considered in selecting, training, supporting and retaining officers and staff. Psychological surveillance can also help police management to identify ways to monitor the long-term effectiveness and well-being of CAIs.

A growing consensus among researchers and practitioners that the current emphasis on identification and investigation of child abuse may be counter‐productive has been slow to produce changes at the policy level. Using the operation of interagency Area Child Protection Committees as an example, this paper suggests that professional and managerial perception of risk of public criticism or media exposure play a significant part in determining policy priorities. Child protection policy was found to be weighted towards the creation of procedures for handling abuse allegations at the expense of developing strategies for prevention of abuse or treatment and after‐care of victims. Yet in most cases investigatory procedures result in no action to the benefit of child or family. To shift service priorities in a direction that is more likely to enhance children's well‐being may require a redefinition of the concept of risk in relation to child protection. Suggestions as to how this shift may be achieved are made.