Child Sexual Abuse, Criminal Justice, and the Pediatrician

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-439
Author(s):  
ELIZABETH BAUM ◽  
MICHAEL A. GRODIN ◽  
JOEL J. ALPERT ◽  
LEONARD GLANTZ
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Criminal Prosecution ◽  
The Past ◽  
Actual Increase ◽  
Victims Of Sexual Abuse

More children are being recognized as victims of sexual abuse than in the past. Because pediatricians are often the first professionals to see the victim, they are often also the first to assess and to evaluate the child. Increased diagnoses of child sexual abuse may be the result either of an actual increase in the incidence of child sexual abuse or of heightened recognition. Whichever explanation or combination is correct, it is crucial that pediatricians be aware not only of the issue of child sexual abuse but also of the correct procedures in collecting data that may be used as evidence and in preparing to be a witness in a potential criminal prosecution of the alleged offender.

Young children: the visibility paradox

2020 ◽  
pp. 87-112
Author(s):  
Corinne May-Chahal ◽  
Emma Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Image Databases ◽  
The Past ◽  
Traditional Sense ◽  
The Subject

This chapter reviews what is known about child sexual abuse media, with a particular focus on the abuse of young children (those under the age of 10). Young children are seldom the subject of research on sexual violence, yet the online-facilitated sexual abuse of these children is known to exist. In the past, child sexual abuse has been described as a hidden phenomenon that is made visible through a child's disclosure or evidence in and on their bodies. Online child sexual victimisation (OCSV) experienced by young children is still hidden in this traditional sense but at the same time highly visible through images that are both detached from the child yet traumatically attached through their creation and continued circulation throughout childhood. Indeed, most of what can be known about OCSV and younger children is through analyses of images harvested online and analyses of law enforcement and non-governmental organisation (NGO) image databases. These sources suggest that OCSV involving young children is different from that experienced by those who are older. It more often involves parents, carers, and family members; it is legally and developmentally impossible for children to consent to it; and images and videos of the abuse are more likely to be trafficked.

Criminal prosecution of child sexual abuse cases

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 457-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Martone ◽  
Paula K. Jaudes ◽  
Mark K. Cavins
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Criminal Prosecution

Psychological Effects of Victimization: Implications for the Criminal Justice System

1987 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 468-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Resick
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Criminal Prosecution ◽  
Rape Victims ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Psychological Reactions ◽  
The Past

The purposes of this article are to review research on psychological reactions to criminal victimization, to consider how victims might be affected by participation in the criminal justice system, and to offer some recommendations for the treatment of victims and their families within the criminal justice system. Over the past ten years there have been a series of studies conducted to examine the long-term effects of rape victims. Recently a study was conducted to compare the reactions of robbery victims with rape victims and to compare female and male robbery victims. This article will review the findings from these longitudinal studies with particular attention to victim reactions that may affect or be affected by participation in criminal prosecution.

The Criminal Justice System and Child Placement in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore P. Cross ◽  
Diane Martell ◽  
Elizabeth McDonald ◽  
Marilyn Ahl
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Child Placement

scholarly journals Court support workers speak out: Upholding children’s rights in the criminal justice system

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loraine Townsend ◽  
Samantha Waterhouse ◽  
Christina Nomdo
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Child Victims ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
Victims Of Sexual Abuse

The prevalence of sexual offences against children in South Africa continues to be among the highest in the world. The quality and accuracy of a child’s testimony is often pivotal to whether cases are prosecuted, and whether justice is done. Child witness programmes assist child victims of sexual abuse to prepare to give consistent, coherent and accurate testimony, and also attempt to ensure that the rights of the child are upheld as enshrined in the various laws, legislative frameworks, directives and instructions that have been introduced since 1994. We draw on information from two studies that sought the perspectives of court support workers to explore whether a child rights-based approach is followed in the criminal justice system (CJS) for child victims of sexual abuse. Findings suggest varying degrees of protection, assistance and support for child victims of sexual abuse during participation in the CJS. The findings revealed that the rights of children to equality, dignity and not to be treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way were undermined in many instances. Finally, recommendations are given on ways to mitigate the harsh effects that adversarial court systems have on children’s rights.

Nonsupportive Disclosure in Child Sexual Abuse: Confidants' Characteristics and Reactions

2007 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 768-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J. Collings
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Family Member ◽  
South African ◽  
Community Member ◽  
Child Victims ◽  
African Child ◽  
Professional Person ◽  
Victims Of Sexual Abuse ◽  
South African Child

In a sample of 856 South African child victims of sexual abuse ( M age= 10.2 yr., SD = 4.2), 26% experienced nonsupportive reactions at initial disclosure, with nonsupportive reactions taking two forms, ignoring the child (16% of cases) and punishing or silencing the child (10% of cases). Nonsupportive disclosure was equally likely when the confidant was a nonoffending guardian (OR=1.00), another family member (OR = 0.84), or a professional person (OR=1.07) but significantly more likely in cases where the confidant was a community member (OR = 3.41).

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