U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Portable Guides to

Investigating Child Abuse

Law

Enforcement

Response to

Child Abuse
Foreword

Law Enforcement Response to Child Abuse—like all the Portable

Guides in this series—is designed to assist those working to

help protect children from being victimized and to improve

the investigation of child abuse cases.

This guide arms law enforcement professionals with the

information needed to ensure consistency in their investigation

of child abuse. Pertinent considerations and helpful

investigatory protocols are provided. Other useful materials

include suggestions on working with physicians, responding to

domestic disturbance calls, and placing children in protective

custody. Supplemental readings and additional resources are

cited.

In protecting our children from criminal predators, law

enforcement professionals are serving their communities and

their Nation. We hope that this guide will aid in that worthy

endeavor.

Original Printing May 1997

Second Printing March 2001

NCJ 162425
1

hild abuse is a community problem. No single

agency has the training, manpower, resources,

or legal mandate to intervene effectively in

child abuse cases. No one agency has the

sole responsibility for dealing

with abused children.

When a child is physically

beaten or sexually

abused, the ideal set of

events is that doctors

treat the injuries,

therapists counsel the

child, social services

works with the family,

police arrest the offender, and

attorneys prosecute the case. To promote this response,

effective community intervention involves the formation

of a child protection team that includes professionals

from medicine, criminal justice, social work, and

education who understand and appreciate the different

roles, responsibilities, strengths, and weaknesses of the

other team members but cooperate and coordinate

their efforts. The skills of each person are viewed as

different but equally important.

The role of law enforcement in child abuse cases is to

investigate to determine if a violation of criminal law

occurred, identify and apprehend the offender, and

file appropriate criminal charges. The response of law

enforcement to child abuse needs to be consistent. The

intent of this guide is to provide officers who respond

to this type of crime with information that will ensure

this consistency. It is also to help law enforcement

understand the importance of developing procedures

and protocols and ways they can work with other

professions to ensure that the needs of children are met.

C
2

State-mandated reporting laws require

a referral when there is a suspicion of

abuse. In most child abuse cases, law

enforcement becomes involved in one

of two ways: by a referral from a school,

a physician, or an agency such as social

services, or by a direct call for service from

a parent, a child, or a neighbor. Because of increased

reporting of child abuse, it is critical that police officers

be trained to handle cases involving child maltreatment.

Child abuse cases have unique characteristics that make them

different from other types of cases. For a number of reasons,

children make “perfect” victims, and crimes involving child

abuse, particularly sexual abuse, are among the most difficult

investigated by law enforcement:

✹ Children are usually unable to protect themselves because of

their level of physical and mental development; frequently they

do not like to talk about the abuse. They may delay disclosure

or tell only part of the story.

✹ An emotional bond often exists between the child and the

offender; children may want the abuse to stop, but they may

not want the offender to be punished.

✹ Crimes of abuse are not usually isolated incidents; instead, they

take place over a period of time, often with increasing severity.

✹ In most sexual abuse cases, there is no conclusive medical

evidence that sexual abuse occurred. Moreover, it occurs in

a private place with no witnesses to the event.

✹ Interviews of children require special handling; legal issues

governing child testimony are complicated and ever changing,

and children—whether victims or witnesses—are often viewed

as less credible or competent than the accused.

✹ Child abuse cases often involve concurrent civil, criminal,

and sometimes administrative investigations; they often cross

jurisdictional lines.

✹ The criminal justice system was not designed to handle the

special needs of children.

Officers must be objective and proactive in their investigations

of abuse. Questions concerning who, what, where, when, how,

and why must be answered. It is important to remember that

child abuse is a crime and law enforcement has a legal duty

and responsibility to respond accordingly.
3

Multidisciplinary Team Approach

The most effective approach to cases involving child

maltreatment is interagency coordination and planning.

Social workers, physicians, therapists, prosecutors, judges,

and police officers all have important roles to play. All must

work together with a common concern—the welfare of the

child—and with a common goal—to communicate with mutual

respect. Differences of opinion are to be expected. Effective

teamwork includes having a mechanism for discussing and,

if possible, resolving these differences.

All members of the child protection team have an obligation

to appreciate what the other professionals on the team are

seeking to accomplish and to understand how their activities

interrelate. For example, law enforcement officers need to be

concerned that their investigation might traumatize a child,

and physicians and therapists need to be concerned that their

treatment and evaluation techniques might hinder or damage

law enforcement’s investigation. An ongoing discussion of

problems that the team encounters during investigations will

help resolve them and will also clarify the roles and

responsibilities of team members.

All players on the child protection team must have clearly

defined roles in order to carry out their responsibilities

effectively.

✹ An interagency protocol helps in establishing written guidelines

for those who investigate cases of child abuse and neglect.

✹ A properly drafted agreement also provides a blueprint for

each of the principal agencies responsible for abuse cases in

the community.

The team members must also invest their time in developing

a long-range strategic plan that will ensure the team is ever

responsive to the needs and changes within the community.

The goal should be efficient coordination of services, with

the chief objectives being to determine what happened and

to meet the needs of the child.
4

The following are essential elements of an effective

interdisciplinary response team:

✹ Identification of the scope of the community problem.

✹ Identification of the resources available.

✹ Establishment of communication guidelines for each response

team member and the victim’s family.

✹ Establishment of clearly defined roles and responsibilities for

each response team member.

✹ Establishment of clearly defined criteria for the types of cases

with which the team will become involved.

Establishing Law Enforcement

Protocols and Procedures

With their legal authority to investigate violations of the law,

law enforcement officers are vital members of a community’s

child protection team. Failure to respond properly to child

abuse cases from the outset (e.g., failure of the responding law

enforcement officer to obtain certain information) can result in

cases being dismissed in court or, in some cases, in innocent

people being falsely accused.

Investigators should be trained and experienced in objectively

investigating child maltreatment, including conducting interviews

of children and interrogating suspected offenders. Training

should be viewed as an ongoing process, designed to increase

the competence of the interdisciplinary team.

Moreover, local law enforcement departments must establish

policies and procedures to investigate child abuse cases.

Personnel investigating child abuse need to consider many

important factors (see figure 1, “Considerations for Child

Abuse Investigations,” pages 6 and 7).

Established agency protocols, guidelines, and training will

guide the decisionmaking process, but officers are likely to

face situations in which the officer’s judgment must be the

guiding light. For this reason, officers must be familiar with

what is expected of them legally in their jurisdiction. As

necessary, they should consult the agency’s legal advisor or

the prosecuting attorney to clarify this.
5

Speaking a Common Language

Professional terminology is used by many disciplines. Members

of the child protection team must be familiar with highly

specialized technical terms (such as “subdural hematoma,”

“dissociation,” “battered child syndrome,” and “pedophilia”)

as well as with basic or common terms (such as “child,”

“molestation,” and “rape”). However, problems can arise

because some terms do not have a universally accepted,

consistent definition. It is important for clear communication

and effective coordination that professional team members

understand what is meant when professional terminology

(or jargon) is used by other team members and that they ask

for clarification when they do not.

The legal definition of a child varies from State to State and even

from statute to statute in the same State. Issues such as whether

the victim consented or whether the offender was a guardian

or caretaker are important legal considerations in such cases.

How the law determines consent is often confusing, even

in the case of a 14-year-old boy who has been seduced by a

55-year-old pedophile. There is a difference between the legal

definition of consent and the meaning given to it by lay people.

To determine who is a child and what is abuse, law enforcement

officers must turn to the law. The penal code will legally define

both, but law enforcement officers must still deal with their

own perceptions and opinions as well as with those of society

as a whole.

For this reason, people working as part of an interdisciplinary

task force must clearly communicate how they are defining a

particular term and establish common ground. Law enforcement

investigators should always be aware of and communicate to

others the legal definitions of terms.

Law enforcement investigators must also be able to communicate

with victims, offenders, and witnesses, as well as with social

workers, physicians, mental health personnel, lawyers,

judges, and peers. To avoid confusion and misunderstanding,

investigators must be equally familiar with various family

or slang terms for body parts and sexual acts when talking to

victims, witnesses, and suspects. Investigators must know

not only both the slang and professional terms, but also the

appropriate times for using each.
6

Figure 1

Considerations for Child Abuse Investigations

When You Receive the Referral

✹ Identify personal or professional biases with child abuse

cases. Develop the ability to desensitize yourself to those

issues and maintain an objective stance.

✹ Know department guidelines and State statutes.

✹ Know what resources are available in the community

(therapy, victim compensation, etc.) and provide this

information to the child’s family.

✹ Introduce yourself, your role, and the focus and objective of

the investigation.

✹ Assure that the best treatment will be provided for the

protection of the child.

✹ Interview the child alone, focusing on corroborative

evidence.

✹ Don’t rule out the possibility of child abuse with a domestic

dispute complaint; talk with the children at the scene.

Getting Information for the Preliminary Report

✹ Inquire about the history of the abusive situation. Dates are

important to set the timeline for when abuse may have

occurred.

✹ Cover the elements of crime necessary for the report.

Inquire about the instrument of abuse or other items on the

scene.

✹ Don’t discount children’s statements about who is abusing

them, where and how the abuse is occurring, or what types of

acts occurred.

✹ Save opinions for the end of the report, and provide

supportive facts. Highlight the atmosphere of disclosure and

the mood and demeanor of participants in the complaint.

Preserving the Crime Scene

✹ Treat the scene as a crime scene (even if abuse has occurred

in the past) and not as the site of a social problem.
7

Figure 1 continued

✹ Secure the instrument of abuse or other corroborative

evidence that the child identifies at the scene.

✹ Photograph the scene and, when appropriate, include any

injuries to the child. Rephotograph injuries as needed to

capture any changes in appearance.

Followup Investigation

✹ Be supportive and optimistic to the child and the family.

✹ Arrange for a medical examination and transportation to the

hospital. Collect items for a change of clothes if needed.

✹ Make use of appropriate investigative techniques.

✹ Be sure the child and family have been linked to support

services or therapy.

✹ Be sure the family know how to reach a detective to disclose

further information.

During the Court Phase

✹ Visit the court with the child to familiarize him or her with

the courtroom setting and atmosphere before the first

hearing. This role may be assumed by the prosecutor or,

in some jurisdictions, by victim/witness services.

✹ Prepare courtroom exhibits (pictures, displays, sketches)

to support the child’s testimony.

✹ File all evidence in accordance with State and court policy.

✹ Unless they are suspects, update the family about the status

and progress of the investigation and stay in touch with

them throughout the court process. Depending on the case,

officers should be cautious about the type and amount of

information provided to the family, since they may share the

information with others.

✹ Provide court results and case closure information to the

child and the family.

✹ Follow up with the probation department for preparation of

the presentence report and victim impact statement(s).
8

Working With the Medical Profession

Physicians can be important allies in the prevention and

treatment of child abuse. Doctors can serve as family counselors

and educators, as influential child advocates, and as key

members of the community multidisciplinary team. They

can help to alleviate stress on a family by managing health

problems, providing child-rearing advice, and discussing

family planning alternatives.

In cases of suspected child maltreatment, doctors have five

basic responsibilities:

✹ To identify suspicious injuries.

✹ To diagnose problems of abuse.

✹ To administer treatment to the child.

✹ To report suspected incidents of abuse to the appropriate

authorities.

✹ To testify in subsequent legal proceedings.

Unfortunately, some physicians are reluctant to get involved

in cases of abuse. For example, they may find few personal

or professional rewards in dealing with an abusive family.

They may not wish to report an incident because it may be

impossible to determine who caused a child’s injuries. Finally,

they may not wish to testify in court because of time constraints

or because of a fear of cross-examination, interrogation,

challenges to their credentials, or possible litigation.

Law enforcement investigators can help counteract physicians’

reluctance by fully involving members of the medical

profession in the community’s team approach to child abuse

and by stressing the importance of medical evidence in

preparing a case for court. It may also be helpful to remind

physicians that all 50 States and the District of Columbia have

enacted legislation regarding immunity from civil or criminal

liability for persons who, in good faith, make or participate in

making a report of child abuse or neglect.
9

Obtaining a Medical Examination

In most cases a medical assessment of the child needs to be

performed as soon as possible. The primary purposes of the

medical examination are to assess potential injury and identify

the need for treatment. Such an examination will also protect

law enforcement against accusations that a child’s injuries

occurred after removal from the home. Whenever possible,

all children suspected of having been abused should be given

a medical examination, preferably by a medical professional

experienced and trained in conducting forensic examinations.

This is critical in cases in which sexual abuse is alleged. The

medical professional should reassure the child, who may be

fearful about the procedure and concerned about the physical

and emotional consequences of the abuse.

A secondary purpose of a medical examination is to determine

the presence of any corroborating evidence of acute or chronic

trauma. In recent years the ability and willingness of doctors to

corroborate child abuse has improved greatly. Better training,

the establishment of protocols, and technological advancements

have improved the ability of doctors to corroborate physical

and sexual abuse in children. Medical imaging technology

now available includes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),

computed tomography (CT), and colposcopes (an instrument

with magnification capabilities for visualizing the interior of a

hollow organ, such as the vagina or rectum; pictures and video

can be taken with the colposcope to document the examination

results).

Law enforcement should be aware that statements made to

doctors by the child during the medical examination may be

admissible in court as exceptions to the hearsay rule. Many

acts of child sexual abuse do not leave any physical injury

that can be identified by a medical examination. In addition,

children’s injuries can heal rapidly. However, lack of medical

corroboration does not necessarily mean that a child was not

sexually abused or that an offense cannot be proved in court.

Figure 2, “Sample Child Sexual Abuse Protocol” (see pages

10 and 11), offers guidelines for the immediate law enforcement

response to an allegation of child sexual abuse and provides

details about obtaining the medical examination critical to

investigating this offense.
10

Figure 2

Investigator’s Sample

Child Sexual Assault Protocol

Interviewing the Victim

✹ Assess the medical needs of the child so that emergency

medical conditions can be attended to immediately.

✹ Determine what examinations are needed for collection

of evidence.

✹ Determine venue.

✹ Establish what offenses, if any, have occurred.

✹ Establish date and time of the offense.

✹ Contact child protective services (CPS), if that has not

been done.

Obtaining a Medical Examination

Note: If a sexual assault occurred within the previous 72

hours, the medical examination should be performed as soon

as possible to maximize the possibility of recovering certain

forensic evidence, such as blood, semen, saliva, and trace

evidence. If the assault occurred more than 72 hours before,

the probability of this type of evidence being recovered is

reduced. However, since the investigator cannot be absolutely

sure when the last encounter was, it is prudent to schedule

the medical examination sooner rather than later. A physician

and/or nurse examiner conducts the examination.

✹ Contact a physician and/or sexual assault nurse examiner.

✹ Coordinate with CPS to determine if you (the police

investigator) or the CPS worker will accompany the child

to the examination.

✹ Meet with the CPS representative, the physician and/or

nurse examiner, the child, and the parent or guardian at

the hospital treatment room.

✹ Assist the child and parents or guardian with the procedures

for admission to the emergency room. (CPS may provide this

assistance, depending on who has requested the examination.)

✹ Brief medical personnel concerning the facts, allegations,

suspect information, the mental state of the child, past

histories, and what the police department and CPS are

looking for in the examination and what evidence is to

be collected.
11

Figure 2 continued

Handling the Evidence

✹ See that the cultures are prepared and marked to maintain

the chain of custody. Include the date, the initials of the

person conducting the examination, and the child’s name.

Transport the cultures and all other materials collected for

evidence to the State laboratory. Make sure that both you

and the laboratory personnel have signed the chain of

custody form. Local procedures may differ from this; law

enforcement must know and follow all jurisdictional

procedures for handling evidence.

✹ Make sure that photographs are marked with the date, time,

victim’s name, photographer’s initials, and case number and

turned over to you as evidence. Photographs can be taken

by police officers, investigators, CPS workers, physicians,

nurse examiners, or other parties.

Subpoena Procedures

✹ Call the physician and/or nurse examiner as soon as

possible if a subpoena has been issued to compare calendars

and identify any conflicts early. Such notification should

include the names of the child victim, defendant, and

prosecuting attorney (if known); court date; and matters

to which the physician may be requested to testify. Local

procedures may differ from this; law enforcement must

know and follow all practices and procedures for their

jurisdiction.

✹ As an option, law enforcement may assist in the

coordination of a pretrial conference with the medical

professional and the prosecutor in advance of the court

hearing. At this meeting:

● Questions that may be asked of the medical professional

can be outlined.

● Medical terminology or difficult trial issues related to the

testimony can be clarified.

● Requests for exhibits that may be helpful in clarifying

testimony can be discussed and time allowed for their

preparation.

This meeting is also a courtesy to prepare the medical

professional in a timely fashion and to relieve the anxiety

of testifying.
12

Domestic Disturbance Calls

One of the most common calls for service by law enforcement

is the domestic disturbance call. Most police officers understand

the potential for danger associated with such calls, but many

do not realize that a violent adult might also vent anger on a

child. A recent study in Florida* revealed that nearly one-third

of domestic disturbance calls masked an incident of some form

of child victimization. For this reason, officers should ask

whether there are children living at the residence and, if so,

where they are.

✹ It is recommended that domestic disturbance calls be answered

with at least two officers, not only for officer protection but

also so that one officer can deal with the parties involved with

the domestic disturbance while the other officer talks with any

children who may be present.

✹ Once the involved parties are calm, most parents, if asked tactfully,

will allow an officer to talk with their children and may even

appreciate the officer’s offer to allay a child’s fear that someone

has been hurt or is going to jail.

✹ If possible, an officer should speak directly with the children.

Such conversations allow the police officer to gather information

about the situation directly from the child and to assess the child’s

need for protection.

Officers should be observant and look for any physical signs

that the child may have been abused, but they should be aware

that a child in this situation is likely to be afraid and withdrawn.

Nervousness or a reluctance to talk to an officer does not

mean that physical abuse has taken place. The officer should

be attuned to the fact that the child may not want to stay at the

residence, fearing another altercation.

An officer suspecting child abuse should preserve possible

crime scene evidence such as a weapon or instrument of abuse

and arrange for photographing of the scene. This eliminates

the need for a search warrant, since officers are already legally

on the scene. The officer must also notify social services of his

or her suspicions of child abuse as soon as possible.

* Hammond CB, Poindexter RW, Caimano JV, Kramer LH, Turman KM,

Wilson JJ, Bieck W, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Tampa, Florida.

Crimes Against Children Crime Analysis Project: Implications and Findings.

Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention,

1993.
13

Placing a Child in Emergency

Protective Custody

Officers who become involved in a child abuse case through

social services should consider all information that has been

provided to them. Based on this information, officers should

ask a basic question: “If we leave and obtain a court order to

remove this child, is the child likely to be injured before we

return?” If the answer is yes, then the officer should remove

the child. All actions should be in accordance with State

guidelines and departmental policy and procedure:

✹ Depending on the jurisdiction, the officer may be obligated to

remove the child if direct disclosure of physical or sexual abuse

is made, if such abuse is alleged, or if evidence of an abusive

incident is present.

✹ Moreover, in most jurisdictions, State law allows an officer to

decide to remove a child based on observation of the facts and

judgment of the information given. In some situations an officer

may remove a child because he or she feels that the child may

suffer further physical or emotional harm or trauma or be hidden

or abducted before a court order can be obtained.

In some jurisdictions law enforcement may be called upon

by child protective services to investigate allegations of child

abuse, to officially place a child in emergency protective

custody, or to assist with such placement. Officers in such

situations need to know the laws in their State. Failure to

understand their legally mandated roles and responsibilities

could result in:

✹ A child being left in a dangerous situation.

✹ A child being removed illegally.

✹ The officer and the department being placed in a situation of

civil liability.

However, if a mistake is to be made, it is better to err in the

attempt to safeguard the physical well-being of the child.

In jurisdictions where law enforcement has sole responsibility

for deciding to remove a child from the home, the child

is usually placed in the custody of the department of social

services until a final determination regarding custody of the

child can be made by the courts. Social services is responsible

for placing the child in a licensed foster care facility. Officers
14

need to be aware of the legalities regarding parental rights and

their responsibilities for providing written notification of the

child’s removal.

In most States it is not acceptable for law enforcement to take

a child from one parent and place him or her in the custody

of another parent or of a relative without a court order or

verification of legal authority. Also, in most States the placement

of a child in the custody of another individual is the sole

responsibility of the department of social services and not law

enforcement. However, if social services chooses to place the

child in the custody of a parent or someone other than a licensed

foster care facility, law enforcement should be aware of the

jurisdiction’s policies and practices before participating in or

agreeing to this placement.

It is highly recommended that removal or detention orders

or other appropriate court paperwork accompany officers

to the removal site and that this paperwork be explained to

adversarial parents. In some jurisdictions there is “summary

removal” authority—that is, with no paperwork in hand and

based on circumstances of the case as it develops, the child

may be removed from the home. Safety issues enter into the

equation, especially as law enforcement is often present for the

protection of social service personnel.

Law enforcement officers are responsible for ensuring that

they have met all requirements of their State governing the

placement of children into protective custody.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Some law enforcement officers inadvertently cause a

situation to escalate when placing a child in protective custody.

Experienced officers have learned to avoid three common

mistakes:

✹ Making premature accusations. Making an accusatory statement

to the parent, guardian, or custodian that the child is being taken

into protective custody because someone has abused the child

places police officers in a situation of serious liability. A more

appropriate statement is, “Because of questionable injuries,

marks, or allegations about inappropriate activity, the child is

being taken to a licensed foster care facility of the State until a

complete and thorough investigation into the situation can be

conducted.”
15

✹ Attempting to rationalize the removal of a child. Some officers

attempt to rationalize with the parent their decision to remove a

child. However, the best tactic is to remove the child and vacate

the situation as quickly as possible, after ensuring that everyone’s

rights are protected. The fact is that no amount of explaining

will lessen the pain, fear, and anger (hostility) involved in having

a child taken away. Officers should be aware that heightened

emotions can lead to a dangerous escalation of the situation.

✹ Failing to provide all of the required forms. Police officers

must be familiar with all the forms that must be completed by

the parent at the time that a child is placed in protective custody.

For example, many States require that a form explaining that the

child has been placed in protective custody must be provided to

the parents within 24 hours after the child has been so placed.

The form must state that the placement was made in accordance

with a particular statute, and it must describe the parents’ rights

in the matter. The responsibility for providing this form to the

parents varies from State to State. Law enforcement officers and

social service workers must know what is required in their State.

Removing the Child

If a law enforcement officer has been called to assist in the

removal of a child, it is the officer’s responsibility to ensure

that the child is removed with as little trauma or danger to

the child and the social worker as possible.

✹ The police officer should meet with the social worker at a neutral

location before going to the residence. The social worker should

explain the situation in general, describe the layout of the

residence, and specify who is expected to be there. In this way

the police officer and the social worker can determine a plan

of action before arriving at the scene.

✹ Any necessary items, such as medication, should be brought

with the child. The key point is that once the decision to

remove a child has been made, the action should be carried

out expeditiously.

Impact on the Child

Physical removal from the home is extremely traumatic for the

child. Both the law enforcement officer and the social worker

are relative strangers. They need to keep the following points

in mind:

✹ Debating the situation with the parent or caretaker only raises

the emotional level of the child. Such arguments may cause the

child to become more nervous, upset, distraught, and emotionally

unstable.
16

✹ In most situations, children are not going to leave their parents

willingly, even though they have been physically or sexually

abused. They may not understand what is best for them and may

try to resist the law enforcement officer.

✹ Officers should not respond to a child’s outbursts with anger or

displeasure. Instead, they should behave as positively—or at least

neutrally—as possible. They should do everything they can to

help the child adjust to a new and scary situation.

✹ Once the officer has removed the child from the residence and the

child has had a chance to calm down, if the child is old enough to

communicate, the officer should take the time to explain that the

child has not done anything wrong and was removed for his or

her own protection.

Conclusion

Child abuse is a multidimensional problem that requires a

multidisciplinary, multiagency team approach for successful

intervention. This means that all professionals involved—

in law enforcement, child protective services, mental health,

medicine, and the law—communicate and coordinate with

one another. A child’s best interest can be served only when

the various professionals that are involved understand their

respective roles, possess knowledge of their State statutes and

local guidelines, and have adequate training in their respective

fields. Sensitive and consistent application of policies and

procedures established in written protocols is essential for

an effective alliance to combat child maltreatment.

Contributing Authors

Carl B. Hammond

Law Enforcement Consultant/Trainer

P.O. Box 5332

Rockville, MD 20848–5332

301–468–3416

Kenneth V. Lanning, M.S. (Retired)
17

Wayne Promisel, M.S.

Detective, Child Services Section

Fairfax County Police Department

10600 Page Avenue

Fairfax, VA 22030

703–246–7813

Jack R. Shepherd

Captain

Executive Division

Michigan State Police

714 South Harrison Road

East Lansing, MI 48823

517–336–6552

Bill Walsh

Lieutenant, Dallas Police Department

Youth and Family Crimes Division

106 South Harwood Street, Room 225

Dallas, TX 75201

214–670–5391

Supplemental Reading

Besharov DJ. Combating Child Abuse: Guidelines for Cooperation

Between Law Enforcement and Child Protective Agencies. Washington,

DC: AEI Press, 1990.

Briere J, Berliner L, Bulkley J, Jenny C, Reid T (eds).

APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment. Newbury Park,

CA: Sage Publications, 1996.

Bryan J. Team Investigation in Child Sexual Abuse Cases: A Desk

Reference for Law Enforcement Officers, Protective Service Workers,

and Prosecuting Attorneys. Little Rock, AR: Arkansas Child

Sexual Abuse Commission, 1987.

Center for the Future of Children. Sexual Abuse of Children.

Newbury Park, CA: Center for the Future of Children, the

David and Lucille Packard Foundation, 1994.

Child Abuse and Neglect State Statute Series. A joint project of

the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN)

and the National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse

(NCPCA), this five-volume series summarizes State statutes
18

on child abuse and neglect in nontechnical language: Volume I,

Reporting Laws; Volume II, Central Registries; Volume III,

Investigations; Volume IV, Child Witnesses; Volume V,

Crimes. The series is updated annually and is available from

the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect

Information, 800–FYI–3366.

DePanfilis D, Salus MK. A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse

and Neglect: A Basic Manual (The User Manual Series).

Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families,

National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1992.

Myers JEB. Legal Issues in Child Abuse and Neglect. Newbury

Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1992.

Pence D, Wilson C. The Role of Law Enforcement in the Response

to Child Abuse and Neglect. (The User Manual Series). Washington,

DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Administration for Children and Families, Administration on

Children, Youth, and Families, National Center on Child Abuse

and Neglect, 1992.

Pence D, Wilson C. Team Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse.

Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1994.

Shepherd JR, Dworin B, Farley RH, Russ BJ, Tressler PW,

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Child

Abuse and Exploitation: Investigative Techniques. 2d ed. Washington,

DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention,

1995.

Smith JC, Benton RL, Moore JK, Runyan DK, American

Association for Protecting Children. Understanding the Medical

Diagnosis of Child Maltreatment: A Guide for Non-Medical Professionals.

Englewood, CO: American Humane Association, 1989.

Whitcomb D. When the Victim is a Child. 2d ed. Washington,

DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs,

National Institute of Justice, 1992.

Wycoff MA, Kealoha M. Creating the Multidisciplinary Response

to Child Sex Abuse: An Implementation Guide. Washington, DC:

Police Foundation, 1987.
19

Organizations

National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse

American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI)

99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 510

Alexandria, VA 22314

703–549–4253

703–549–6259 (fax)

The National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse is a nonprofit and

technical assistance affiliate of APRI. In addition to research and technical

assistance, the Center provides extensive training on the investigation and

prosecution of child abuse and child deaths. The national trainings include

timely information presented by a variety of professionals experienced in

the medical, legal, and investigative aspects of child abuse.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Washington, DC 20535–0001

202–324–3000

Forensic examination of evidence can be useful in cases of child sexual

abuse. Tests that may be considered include:

✹ DNA profiling of body fluids or biological stains.

✹ Comparative examination of foreign hairs and fibers with those of

a suspected source.

✹ Chemical analyses for petroleum jelly or lotion residues.

Questions on submission of these types of evidence can be directed to your

local crime laboratory or to the FBI Laboratory at the number given above.

Fox Valley Technical College

Criminal Justice Department

Law Enforcement Training Programs

P.O. Box 2277

1825 North Bluemound Drive

Appleton, WI 54914–2277

800–648–4966

920–735–4757 (fax)

Participants are trained in child abuse and exploitation investigative

techniques, covering the following areas:

✹ Recognition of signs of abuse.

✹ Collection and preservation of evidence.

✹ Preparation of cases for prosecution.
20

✹ Techniques for interviewing victims and offenders.

✹ Liability issues.

Fox Valley also offers an intensive special training for local child investigative

teams. Teams must include representatives from law enforcement, prosecution,

social services, and (optionally) the medical field. Participants take part in

hands-on team activity involving:

✹ Development of interagency processes and protocols for enhanced

enforcement, prevention, and intervention in child abuse cases.

✹ Case preparation and prosecution.

✹ Development of the team’s own interagency implementation plan for

improved investigation of child abuse.

National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC)

Training Department

200 Westside Square, Suite 700

Huntsville, AL 35801

256–533–0531

NCAC sponsors satellite video training conferences on a range of topics.

Recent examples include interviewing children, medical aspects of child

abuse, team-building for multidisciplinary teams, and the connections

between domestic violence and child sexual abuse. Continuing education

credits are available.

Other Titles in This Series

Currently there are 12 other Portable Guides to Investigating

Child Abuse. To obtain a copy of any of the guides listed below

(in order of publication), contact the Office of Juvenile Justice

and Delinquency Prevention’s Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse by

telephone at 800–638–8736 or e-mail at puborder@ncjrs.org.

Recognizing When a Child’s Injury or Illness Is Caused by Abuse,

NCJ 160938

Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Child Sexual Abuse, NCJ 160940

Photodocumentation in the Investigation of Child Abuse, NCJ 160939

Diagnostic Imaging of Child Abuse, NCJ 161235

Battered Child Syndrome: Investigating Physical Abuse and Homicide,

NCJ 161406

Interviewing Child Witnesses and Victims of Sexual Abuse, NCJ 161623

Child Neglect and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, NCJ 161841

Criminal Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse, NCJ 162426

Burn Injuries in Child Abuse, NCJ 162424

Understanding and Investigating Child Sexual Exploitation, NCJ 162427

Forming a Multidisciplinary Team To Investigate Child Abuse, NCJ 170020

Use of Computers in the Sexual Exploitation of Children, NCJ 170021
Additional Resources

American Bar Association

(ABA)

Center on Children and

the Law

Washington, DC

202–662–1720

202–662–1755 (fax)

American Humane Association

Englewood, Colorado

800–227–4645

303–792–9900

303–792–5333 (fax)

American Medical Association

(AMA)

Department of Mental Health

Chicago, Illinois

312–464–5000

(AMA main number)

312–464–4184 (fax)

American Professional Society

on the Abuse of Children

(APSAC)

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

405–271–8202

405–271–2931 (fax)

Federal Bureau of Investigation

(FBI)

National Center for the

Analysis of Violent Crime

Quantico, Virginia

703–632–4333

Fox Valley Technical College

Criminal Justice Department

Appleton, Wisconsin

800–648–4966

920–735–4757 (fax)

Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse

(JJC)

Rockville, Maryland

800–638–8736

301–519–5600 (fax)

Kempe Children’s Center

Denver, Colorado

303–864–5252

303–864–5302 (fax)

National Association of Medical

Examiners

St. Louis, Missouri

314–577–8298

314–268–5124 (fax)

National Center for Missing

and Exploited Children

(NCMEC)

Alexandria, Virginia

703–274–3900

703–274–2220 (fax)

National Center for the

Prosecution of Child Abuse

Alexandria, Virginia

703–549–4253

703–549–6259 (fax)

National Children’s Alliance

Washington, DC

800–239–9950

202–639–0597

202–639–0511 (fax)

National Clearinghouse on

Child Abuse and Neglect

Information

Washington, DC

800–FYI–3366

703–385–7565

703–385–3206 (fax)

National SIDS Resource

Center

Vienna, Virginia

703–821–8955, ext. 249

703–821–2098 (fax)

Prevent Child Abuse America

Chicago, Illinois

800–835–2671

312–663–3520

312–939–8962 (fax)
U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice ProgramsOffice of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency PreventionWashington, DC 20531Official BusinessPenalty for Private Use $300

PRESORTED STANDARD

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

DOJ/OJJDP

PERMIT NO. G–91