9 Children & The Law

Question 1

Why can it be hard to get children to talk about abuse that has happened?

Answer 1

• Sometimes there is no physical evidence

- Sometimes the only evidence is testimony of the child

Question 2

Young children are more susceptible to procedures that induce _____ ________?

Answer 2

False memories

Question 3

Investigators and counsellors must use what types of interview techniques when working with children?

Answer 3

Nonleading interview.

Question 4

What is an example of an open-ended question?

Answer 4

“Tell me what happened.”

“What happened next?”

Question 5

What is an example of a yes/no question?

Answer 5

“Did zach hit you?”

• Issue with this is you may possibly give them false
  memories. Maybe they don’t even know a zach.

Question 6

What is guided imagery?

Answer 6

Ask the child to go back and put yourself back in that situation. NOT hypnosis, but similar.

Question 7

What are the three methods used to ask a child about their allegation?

Answer 7

• Open ended questions
• Yes/ no questions
• Guided imagery

Question 8

What is the problem with guided imagery?

Answer 8

Children may imagine events. They are creative.

Question 9

What are anatomical dolls?

Answer 9

A doll introduced in the 1970’s with is used as an assessment tool. The dolls permit children to reveal aspects of abuse that they wouldn’t reveal verbally. Abused children will manifest “inappropriate” sexual behaviour.

Question 10

What are the doll guidelines?

Answer 10

1. Dolls should not be used to make the initial diagnosis of
   abuse.
2. Professionals who use the dolls should be properly
   trained.
3. Investigators should be aware of interpersonal factors.
4. Interview should be videotaped.

Question 11

Do they still use anatomical dolls?

Answer 11

Not really. It’s seemed to be too suggestible and attracts too much false information.

Question 12

Ideally, what should the interviewer do?

Answer 12

• Use opened ended questions.
• yes/no questions lead to suggestion.
• Interviewers should talk to children in a language that
  they understand.
• Interviews should be documented.

Question 13

Why can guided imagery be a bad idea?

Answer 13

If the allegation is true, you can re-traumatize the child.

Question 14

What are stressors for children?

Answer 14

• Lack of information or understanding
• Adjournments, changes and delay
• Public exposure
• Facing the accused
• Cross-examination

Question 15

What is meant by ‘lack of information and understanding?’

Answer 15

• Being “in the dark” on case development is uncomfortable and confusing.
• First meeting with prosecutor on the day of court is too late for a child.

Question 16

What are adjournments / changes and delay?

Answer 16

• Some cases take a long time
• It’s frustrating to wait in court for hours for it to be cancelled
• Changes in assigned prosecutor can be unsettling

Question 17

What does ‘public exposure’ mean?

Answer 17

• Content of testimony can be embarrassing to a child
• May be nervous for strangers watching
• Speaking in public can be hard for children

Question 18

Why can ‘facing the accused’ be hard for children?

Answer 18

• Obviously scared and intimidated

- Accused may have threatened the child not to tell

Question 19

Why is cross-examination tough in child cases?

Answer 19

Some lawyers will try on purpose to confuse the child. Double questions, meandering sentences, confusing vocabulary. The tone of the questioning can imply the child is lying.

Question 20

How many females claim to have been sexually assaulted as a child?

Answer 20

1/4

Question 21

How many males claim to have been sexually assaulted as a child?

Answer 21

1/8

Question 22

What is the most common form of child sexual abuse?

Answer 22

Touching / fondling of genitals

Question 23

What is the percentage of perpetrators that sexually abused the child, are related to that child?

Answer 23

93%

Question 24

What are the areas affected by child sexual abuse?

Answer 24

• Brain (physically / cognitively)
• Academic / social difficulties
• Affective and somatic disturbances
• Difficulty controlling anger
• Antisocial behaviour and delinquency
• Mental health issues, substance abuse, suicide

Question 25

Evaluations require an investigator to? (4)

Answer 25

1. Interview people (family members, babysitters, etc)
2. Gather collateral information
3. Analyze information
4. Present the information in the form of a report to a
   judge so the court can make informed decisions.

Question 26

Child custody evaluation assists them in determining the health, safety, welfare and the ____ ________ __ ___ _____?

Answer 26

Best interest of the child.

Question 27

What is the role as a professional expert?

Answer 27

Have a specialized competence that includes knowledge of assessment procedures, child / family development, psychopathology, applicable legal standards and laws relevant to divorce and custody decisions. Cannot have relationships with family members. (Ex: Can’t be their therapist. Or be a family friend.)

Question 28

Write notes on slide 32. Don’t really know what to say.

Answer 28

Slide 32.

Question 29

What is collateral information of high priority?

Answer 29

Criminal history, police reports, CPS reports, teacher reports, medical records, drug tests (for parents), school records, etc.

Question 30

What is some information to consider for evaluations?

Answer 30

• Age and developmental stage of children
• Interests and activities of the child & role of parent in
  those interests.
• Demonstrated capacity of parents to foster growth and
  take of children.
• Relationship and attachment between child and parent.

Question 31

Why is the social history of the parent important?

Answer 31

Provides insight into how each parent is likely to perceive the reality of their current circumstances.

Question 32

What should forensic interviewers do?

Answer 32

• Listen, let them talk.
• Poker face.
• Let them feel like they are in control.
• They don’t know what you know (like criminal hx)
• Always attend to body behaviour
• Use confusion, sparingly, but intelligently.

Question 33

In the analysis of evaluations, what is important to remember?

Answer 33

• If you can’t prove it, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
• How do you support information you can’t prove?
• This is your expert opinion, provide the shades of grey

Question 34

In writing an evaluation conclusion, remember…?

Answer 34

• Answer the referral question
• Provide information to the court to assist in determining
  the best interests of the child.

Question 35

What are the several types of testimony by psychologists in sexual abuse cases?

Answer 35

• Social framework testimony

- Ultimate opinion testimony

Question 36

What is social framework testimony?

Answer 36

Provides a context for evaluating the evidence in the case. It’s the testimony about similarities between the child witness and the perpetrator.

Question 37

What is projective testing?

Answer 37

Like ink blot tests. Theres no right/wrong answer. Or asking them to draw a picture.

Question 38

What is objective testing?

Answer 38

When you have a test that has hand-written questions.
It’s a structured interview.
Ex: IQ test.