This three-day course is designed to provide the detective with the basic tools needed to successfully investigate reports of child abuse.  The student will learn what child abuse reports are criminal and which are not; the roles and responsibilities of all members of the multi-disciplinary team and how to interact with and share information with the team members.  The student will learn how children encode memories how to form questions to successfully obtain information the victim is unable to provide without assistance.  The student will become familiar with the extensive lengths perpetrators go to insulate themselves from suspicion through grooming and manipulation of the victim, the victim’s family, and the community.  The student will learn how to interview children, perpetrators and non-offending parents and the importance of proper questions and observe several interviews or portions of interviews.  The student will learn what traditional evidence may be present at crime scenes, even delayed reports; as well as non-traditional information which when analyzed and properly presented, are evidence to confirm or refute the report of abuse.  The student will learn the importance of corroborating the information provided by the child victim, not only concerning the allegation, but of neutral events.   The student will then participate in an exercise where information and evidence is prepared for presentation to the prosecutor.  Finally, there will be a discussion with the students concerning self-care and the long-term impact of repeated and continual exposure to violence against children.

 

Course Instruction Topics:

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DAY 1

 

INTRODUCTION TO CHILD ABUSE

• Statistics

• Definitions of Child Abuse

• Is Child Abuse a Crime?

• Objectives of a Child Abuse Investigation

 

DEFINING ROLES

• Composition of the Multidisciplinary Team and the Role of Each Team Member

• The role of the Child Advocacy Center

 

UNDERSTANDING THE VICTIM

• 180 minutes

• Physical Abuse

• Child Neglect

• Sexual Abuse

 

UNDERSTANDING THE SUSPECT

• The Life of the Offender

• Typologies of the Child Sexual Offender

• Why Do Some People Abuse Children and Others Do Not?

• What Makes Children Desirable and How Do They Find Them?

• What Are the Indicators of Child Abuse?

 

UNDERSTANDING THE NON-OFFENDING PARENT(S)

• Non Offending Parent Reactions

• Questions Parents Ask

• Information To Be Gathered

• How Much to Disclose and Discussing the Interview Results

 

CASE STUDY

• Ellie’s Story

 

End of Day 1

 

DAY 2

 

INTERVIEWING VICTIMS

• History of Interviews

• Development of Interview Methodologies

• Question Types

• The Need for Structure

• Composition of Child Interview

 

INTERVIEWING SUSPECTS

• Custodial Versus Noncustodial Interviews and Interrogation

• Communication

• The Interview Process

• The Interview

• Interview Approaches

• The Substantive Portion of the Interview / The Suspect Interrogation

 

CHILD ABUSE CRIME SCENE EXAMINATIONS

• Crime Scene Processing:: A General Methodology

• Unique Characteristics of Each Type of Child Maltreatment Crime Scenes

• Child Neglect Crime Scenes

• Physical Abuse Crime Scenes

• Sexual Abuse Crime Scenes

• Medical Examinations

 

CORROBORATING THE VICTIM’S VERSION OF EVENTS

• Why is Corroboration Important?

• How Do You Corroborate The Allegation?

• Suspect Defenses

• Recantation

 

End of Day 2

 

DAY 3

 

CASE STUDY

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CORROBORATING THE VICTIM’S VERSION OF EVENTS

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COMMON MISTAKES

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CASE STUDY

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THE COURT PROCESS

• Decision to Prosecute or Not

• Interview Considerations

• Introduction of Evidence

 

THE IMPACT OF EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE and SELF CARE

• Impact of Exposure Continuum

• How Does Exposure Impact Investigators?

• Organizational Responsibilities

• Recognizing an Individual Under Extreme Stress

• Managing Stress

• When is Enough Really Enough?’

 

TABLE TOP EXERCISE

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COURSE WRAP UP

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End of Day 3

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Course Length:

3 Days / 24 Hours.

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Price:

$350.00