Criminal Investigations of Child Abuse The Research Behind “Best Practices”
Abstract
This article reviews the research relevant to seven practices considered by many to be among the most progressive approaches to criminal child abuse investigations: multidisciplinary team investigations, trained child forensic interviewers, videotaped interviews, specialized forensic medical examiners, victim advocacy programs, improved access to mental health treatment for victims, and Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs). The review finds that despite the popularity of these practices, little outcome research is currently available documenting their success. However, preliminary research supports many of these practices or has influenced their development. Knowledge of this research can assist investigators and policy makers who want to improve the response to victims, understand the effectiveness of particular programs, or identify where assumptions about effectiveness are not empirically supported.
Department
Psychology
Publication Date
7-2005
Journal Title
Trauma, Violence, and Abuse
Publisher
Sage Publications
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1177/1524838005277440
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Jones, Lisa M.; Cross, Theodore P.; Walsh, Wendy A.; and Simone, Monique, "Criminal Investigations of Child Abuse The Research Behind “Best Practices”" (2005). Trauma, Violence, and Abuse. 58.
https://scholars.unh.edu/psych_facpub/58