Examine the common medical and social myths and misconceptions that undermine the investigation and adjudication of child sexual abuse cases. Materials discussed will include the medical/legal definitions or "child", the evolving definition of "rape", and the different between statutory requirements for "consent" and "force".
Review a case study involving a 3-year old child who was physically and emotionally abused by his mother's boyfriend. It was not until he was unable to walk that his mother was forced to take him to the Emergency Department for medical attention. With the work of many dedicated people of multi-disciplines this case was brought to justice!
Learn the signs of neglect, physical, and sexual child abuse to identify a child victim and understand your responsibility as a mandated reporter. Awareness of these signs is a critical step to protecting our children and help educate others. We all have a responsibility to protect children.
Learn more about Child Protector, a free application designed to improve the investigative, administrative, and judicial handling of child physical abuse cases, as well as child fatalities, in a manner that reduces trauma to the child and family. Utilizing sophisticated and detailed medical illustration, professional narration and animation as well as x-rays and real images, Child Protector demonstrates the location, characteristics, and biomechanics of injuries in young children commonly encountered by Children's Division (CD) workers, legal professionals, law enforcement, and medical providers. The app provides a realistic view of injury mechanisms that enhance the investigators ability to gather pertinent scene and witness information, thus improving the accuracy and efficiency of the investigation. Animations, narration, and real images detail how bruises, burns, head injuries, fractures, and abdominal injuries occur through both accidents and abuse.
Learn how to interview non-offending caregivers and suspects. Content includes interview locations, custody versus non-custody situations, timeline for interviews, and the art of interrogation.
Discuss the risk factors that might be present in a case, which could be indicative of a possible recant. Explain and recognize potential ways to ensure both the physical and emotional protection of the child as well as immediate intervention services in an effort to prevent a recant in the first place. Discuss and identify ways for the multidisciplinary team to evaluate the report of recantation to determine what to do next. Recognize when a second interview should occur, by whom and the adjustments that need to be made to traditional interview protocols in order to gather pertinent information.
The child interviewing field recommends an initial “rapport” phase, the use of narrative questions, and obtaining narrative accounts upon disclosure of abuse. However, there is relatively little guidance how to properly establish “rapport”, or how to organize questioning after a child discloses abuse. During this webinar, you will learn practical strategies to improve the clarity, accuracy, and level of detail in children’s’ reports.
The more we learn about child pornography offenders likely committing hands on offenses, the more important it is to interview children to whom the offender has access. These cases are different from typical child sex abuse cases and they require a planned approach. Suggestions on how to manage these interviews and the barriers to be addressed.
Learn how to prepare and present a winning case in child maltreatment proceedings or criminal prosecutions of child abusers. Topics addressed include ideas for successfully confronting common defenses, and ways to prepare witnesses, including children, to testify effectively and minimize the trauma they experience in court.
Learn state-of-the art techniques that an investigator can use in the assessment and investigation of non-accidental injuries. Various weapons, utilized by the offender in child abuse situations, are identified and demonstrated.
