Forensic Evidence in Child Sexual Abuse

2019 ◽  
pp. 171-196
Author(s):  
Vincent J. Palusci ◽  
Cindy W. Christian
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Forensic Evidence

The value of paediatric assessment in historic child sexual abuse

2017 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 550-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Al-Jilaihawi ◽  
Kevin Borg ◽  
Sabine Maguire ◽  
Deborah Hodes
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Unmet Health Needs ◽  
Broad Variety ◽  
Prepubertal Girls ◽  
Case Note Review

IntroductionA perception exists that there are few benefits of a paediatric assessment in historic child sexual abuse (CSA), as the likelihood of finding forensic evidence is low.AimTo determine the value of a comprehensive paediatric assessment in a dedicated clinic for children and young people who present following suspicion or allegation of historic CSA.MethodAll children with suspected or alleged historic CSA, defined as >7 days after the last episode of sexual assault in pubertal girls, or >3 days for prepubertal girls and all boys, were assessed in a specialised paediatric clinic. Clinic data were collected prospectively between October 2009 and November 2014 and through retrospective case note review.ResultsAmong the 249 children who presented with possible historic CSA, ages ranged from 0 to 17 years (median 7, SD 4.3). Of these children, 141 (57%) had a medical concern(s) related to the referral reason, 78 (31%) had an unrelated medical concern(s) and 55 (22%) had emotional or behavioural concerns requiring onward referral, while 18 (7%) children had physical signs supportive of CSA. Findings referable to social care were identified in 26 cases (10%), the police in 6 cases and 15 (6%) parents required professional help for anxiety symptoms.ConclusionsThis study highlights the value of a comprehensive paediatric assessment in a dedicated clinic for cases of suspected or alleged historic CSA, by identifying a broad variety of unmet health needs in this group. The findings have important implications for the child, their families and the multiagency team.

scholarly journals Back to Basics: The Identification of Genital Anatomic Structures and Forensic Evidence Collection Kits in Cases of Suspected Child Sexual Abuse

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 212-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcella Donaruma-Kwoh ◽  
Eileen R. Giardino ◽  
Angelo P. Giardino
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
External Genitalia ◽  
Sexual Contact ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Labia Minora ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Evidence Collection ◽  
Nursing Professionals

Background: The genitalia examination and collection of forensic evidence are essential components of the medical evaluation when sexual abuse is suspected. In addition to a complete history/interview, the medical visit for a suspected child sexual abuse victim usually includes a detailed examination of external genitalia and anus as well as, if indicated, the collection of forensic evidence. It is important that medical and nursing professionals are able to correctly identify normal genital and anal structures before they can identify abnormal physical findings in either the prepubertal or adolescent patient. Additionally, medical and nursing professionals are expected to accurately collect and preserve forensic evidence when possible. Methods: A topical review of literature that examines: 1) if physicians and nurse practitioners could identify basic anatomic structure of external genitalia, and 2) the timing and yield of forensic evidence collection kits. Results: Physicians vary in their ability to correctly identify prepubertal genital anatomic structures. Over a series of studies, on the same photograph of female prepubertal genitalia, 59 to 64% of physicians correctly identified the hymen from; 76 to 90% correctly identified the labia minora, and 63 to 78%correctly identified the urethra. On a second photo, deemed more clear, 71% of pediatric chief residents correctly labeled the hymen. Pediatric nurse practitioners performed similarly to the physicians correctly identifying the hymen 59%, labia minora 88% and urethra 81%. Looking at photographs of male prepubertal genitalia, 93% of pediatric chief residents correctly identified the basic structures while only 22% correctly recognized hypospadias. Literature reviewed on forensic evidence collection kits support an extended window for evidence collection of up to 96 hours after suspected sexual contact especially of clothing and other non-body surfaces. Conclusion: Medical and advanced practice nursing professions have to improve the educational processes of clinicians who evaluate and treat children suspected of abuse. Physicians and nurse practitioners experienced difficulty in correctly labeling and identifying basic external genital structures on a photograph of a prepubertal child’s genitalia. Additionally, extending the time frame from suspected sexual contact to examination to a window of up to 96-hours post assault may increase the yield of recovering forensic evidence in both pre and post-pubertal patients.

Forensic Evidence in Child Sexual Abuse

2005 ◽  
pp. 171-192
Author(s):  
Vincent J. Palusci ◽  
Cindy W. Christian
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Forensic Evidence

scholarly journals Factors associated with child sexual abuse confirmation at forensic examinations

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 599-606
Author(s):  
Welington dos Santos Silva ◽  
Filipe Moraes Ribeiro ◽  
Gabriel Kamei Guimarães ◽  
Matheus de Sá dos Santos ◽  
Victor Porfírio dos Santos Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Family Relationship ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Forensic Examination ◽  
Type Of Abuse ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Material Evidence ◽  
Birth Type

Abstract The aim of this study is identify potential factors associated with child sexual abuse confirmation at forensic examinations. The forensic files of children under 12 years of age reporting sexual abuse at the Nina Rodrigues Institute of Forensic Medicine in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil between January 2008 and December 2009 were reviewed. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with finding evidence of sexual abuse in forensic examinations. The proportion of cases confirmed by the forensic physician based on material evidence was 10.4%. Adjusted analysis showed that the variables place of birth, type of abuse reported, family relationship between the child and the perpetrator, and the interval between the reported abuse and the forensic examination were not independently associated with finding forensic evidence of sexual abuse. A report of penetration was associated with a five-fold greater likelihood of confirmation, while the victim being 10-11 years of age was associated with a two-fold of abuse confirmation than younger children. These findings should be taken into consideration when drawing up guidelines for the multidisciplinary evaluation of children suspected of being victims of sexual abuse and in deciding whether to refer the child for forensic examination.

Malpractice & Negligence: State Supreme Courts Limit Therapists’ Duties to Third Parties

1999 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-205
Author(s):  
Megan Cleary
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Supreme Court ◽  
New Hampshire ◽  
Third Parties ◽  
State Supreme Courts ◽  
Recovered Memories ◽  
Supreme Courts ◽  
Repressed Memory ◽  
University Of Colorado

In recent years, the law in the area of recovered memories in child sexual abuse cases has developed rapidly. See J.K. Murray, “Repression, Memory & Suggestibility: A Call for Limitations on the Admissibility of Repressed Memory Testimony in Abuse Trials,” University of Colorado Law Review, 66 (1995): 477-522, at 479. Three cases have defined the scope of liability to third parties. The cases, decided within six months of each other, all involved lawsuits by third parties against therapists, based on treatment in which the patients recovered memories of sexual abuse. The New Hampshire Supreme Court, in Hungerford v. Jones, 722 A.2d 478 (N.H. 1998), allowed such a claim to survive, while the supreme courts in Iowa, in J.A.H. v. Wadle & Associates, 589 N.W.2d 256 (Iowa 1999), and California, in Eear v. Sills, 82 Cal. Rptr. 281 (1991), rejected lawsuits brought by nonpatients for professional liability.

Finkelhor's Precondition Model of child sexual abuse: A critique.

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-307
Author(s):  
Tony Ward ◽  
Stephen M. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse
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