Team Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse

The Uneasy Alliance

As child sexual abuse investigation and intervention in the United States has evolved over the past decade, it has become clear that no single discipline or agency can meet the needs of abused children and their families. Coordinated investigative teams, involving an alliance between a wide range of professionals - such as criminal justice professionals, social workers, medical practitioners and mental health clinicians - are needed for fact-finding, child protection and criminal prosecution.

This practical book focuses on how to design, develop, operate and maintain effective teams. It begins with examinations of how to build teams and the roles and responsibilities of the professionals involved. Investigative interviewing is covered fully, detailing topics such as: investigative protocols; preparing for the child interview; the child interview process; corroborating interviews; and interviewing the suspect. The volume concludes with discussions of the process and context of decision-making in this specialized field.