SEXUAL ABUSE - Coursework Example

2009). The personalities and behaviors of the involved persons often provide important information to the investigators. In order to determine the validity of a sexual abuse report, the available information and evidence is often evaluated. The best source of information is often evidence from sources like statements from eye witnesses, confessions, pictures or videos that depict the abuse. Additionally, conclusive medical and forensic evidence often make the process of case validation very easy.

However, this kind of evidence is very rare in child abuse cases, hence the need to derive other means of validation. Hersen & Gross (2008), claim that the majority of child cases often have the statements from the child and other evidence that may be consistent with abuse but does not prove that the abuse actually occurred. The other evidence includes the child’s emotional and behavioral characteristics, indirect medical findings, known contact with the offender, suspect seen by others and objects similar to the descriptions given by the child.

In case there is no other evidence, then it becomes very important to examine the statements given by the child in order to validate an abuse report. . Sexual knowledge or behavior that is developmentally unusual: This suggests that the child has been sexually abused repeatedly and has become used to it Developmentally appropriate language: The language used by the child must be consistent with his or her age to ensure that there is no coaching. Play and gesture indicative of abuse Idiosyncratic detail: The child should be able to recount highly personalized details to add credibility to his or her statement Content of the statement: The details of the child’s statement should be thoroughly analyzed in order to establish consistency The child’s manner and emotional response: The child’s emotions must be captured to establish whether they are real or coached The existence of a motive to fabricate: The assessment should consider the factors that may be behind the child’s motive to fabricate information or be coached to lie The child corrects the interviewer: The instances where the child corrected or failed to agree with the interviewer implies that he or she is paying attention to the session The statement of the offender should be examined for validity 2 Discuss, in detail, the various charging considerations, options, and statutory schemes.

In the cases of sexual abuse, the most serious potential charge is often chosen although the prosecutor must prove all the elements of the crime beyond reasonable doubt (Myers, 1997). The nature of the conduct is often significant as it determines whether the offender did it once or repeatedly. The following considerations are often made: Intentional homicide: In the event that the child is murdered, the prosecutor must prove that the perpetrator intended to kill the victim. Knowing