Effective Child Abuse Investigation for the Multi-Disciplinary Team

126 Pages·2014·5.05 MB·English

by  Graham

FORENSICS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE G
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Effective Child Abuse Investigation for the
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Multi-Disciplinary Team
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Child abuse cases are unique in that they involve seldomly witnessed acts. A nonverbal iv
victim and a silent perpetrator will often lead to a stalling of the investigation and the e

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judicial process. Effective Child Abuse Investigation for the Multi-Disciplinary Team
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is a practical guide for law enforcement officers and child protection workers in abuse ild
investigations. It demonstrates how all members of the team can best work together to
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consolidate the medical, social, and legal facts in each case, increasing the chances for b
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successful prosecution and enhancing child safety.
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Presenting the insight of an investigator with more than two decades of experience, this I
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book guides investigators in the best practices of abuse investigations through a better v
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understanding of the dynamics of abuse, the mechanisms of injury, and the efficient use of s
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professional expertise. ig
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Topics include: t
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• Forming an investigative plan

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• Differentiating between accidental and abusive injury o
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• Triggers for abuse most often cited by perpetrators
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• Common defenses, including religious or constitutional justification for punishment
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• Legal and social factors associated with taking a child into protective custody M
• Preparing for civil and criminal trial u
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Additional topics include the danger of investigative bias, female sex offenders, child i-D
development, and basic medical terminology associated with abusive head trauma. is
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Appendices include questions to be asked in all cases, a pediatric investigation checklist ip Multi-Disciplinary
for first responders, and an investigative timeline checklist. lin
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Suitable for any law enforcement training environment, the book demonstrates how working r
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together with the collective knowledge of all members of the team can ensure maltreated
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children are protected and abusers held accountable for their actions. e
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K23418 Bradley Richard Graham
6000 Broken Sound Parkway, NW
Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
711 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
an informa business
2 Park Square, Milton Park
www.crcpress.com Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN, UK www.crcpress.com
K23418_cover.indd 1 7/2/14 9:45 AM

Effective
Child Abuse
Investigation for the
Multi-Disciplinary
Team

Effective
Child Abuse
Investigation for the
Multi-Disciplinary
Team
Bradley Richard Graham
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2015 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
No claim to original U.S. Government works
Version Date: 20140620
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4822-4311-6 (eBook - PDF)
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Contents
Preface ix
acknowledgments xi
about the author xiii
chaPter 1 IntroductIon 1
chaPter 2 InvestIgatIve Plan 7
Allegation and Disclosure 8
Suspect Information 11
Child Forensic Interview 12
Medical Evaluation 14
Multi-d isciplinary Response 15
The Nonoffending Parent as a Witness 16
Other Witnesses 19
Crime Scene 21
Accelerated Timeline for Suspect Contact 22
chaPter 3 accIdental versus nonaccIdental trauma 25
Fractures 26
Sentinel Bruising 27
Biting 28
Fall Injuries and Abusive Head Trauma 29
Assessment 30
chaPter 4 abusIve head trauma 31
Timeline of AHT/ SBS 35
v
vi Contents
chaPter 5 trIggers for abuse 39
Crying 39
Behaviors 40
Economic Stressors 41
chaPter 6 common defenses 43
Osteogenesis Imperfecta 43
Fractures from Birth 44
Violent Coughing 44
chaPter 7 corPoral PunIshment 47
Religion and Child Abuse 48
chaPter 8 ProtectIve custody 51
Probable Cause 52
Imminent Danger 52
Multiple Siblings 53
Administrative Issues 54
chaPter 9 InvestIgatIve bIas 55
chaPter 10 female sex offenders 61
Media Bias 62
Investigative and Judicial Bias 63
Older Victims 65
Investigative Considerations 66
chaPter 11 multI- dIscIPlInary teams 67
Best Practices 67
Child Advocacy Centers 68
Case Review 69
Outside Agency Investigations 70
Information Sharing 70
chaPter 12 trIal testImony 73
Investigative Process 74
Professional Background 75
Presentation 76
Debrief 77
chaPter 13 chIld develoPment 79
Sexual Development 79
Sexual Play 80
Physical Development 81
chaPter 14 termInology 85
Head 85
Subdural Hematoma 85
Subarachnoid Hematoma 85
Contents vii
Retinal Hemorrhages 86
Diffuse Axonal Injury 87
Coup and Countrecoup Injuries 87
Fractures 87
Medical Terms 88
Plausible versus Actual 88
references 91
aPPendIx a: QuestIon sets 95
Medical Questions 95
Initial Presentation of Victim at Hospital 95
Fractures 96
Ophthalmology 96
Subdural Hematoma 96
Caretaker Questions 97
Birth Process 97
Timelines 97
aPPendIx b: PedIatrIc abuse InvestIgatIon checklIst
for fIrst resPonders 101
aPPendIx c: InvestIgatIve tImelIne checklIst 105