Forensic Interviews Regarding Child Sexual Abuse: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practice

“The laudable aim of Forensic Interviews Regarding Child Sexual Abuse: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practice … is to assist professionals by providing one inclusive source that delineates evidence-based practices for conducting child sexual abuse forensic interviews. … The breadth and foci make this book a useful resource for prospective or current forensic interviewers, child advocates, lawyers, clinicians, and researchers. … Forensic Interviews Regarding Child Sexual Abuse offers a comprehensive collection of practice considerations for forensic interviewers and clinicians.” (Juanita N. Baker, Travis W. Conradt and Demara B. Bennett, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 61 (21), May, 2016)

“This book explores psychological testing, legal and ethical issues, neuroscience updates on childhood memory, and abusers’ grooming techniques and threats. … The intended audience is professionals working with children, including clinical and child psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. … it should be in the libraries of graduate/medical students in forensic psychology/psychiatry, as well as practitioners.” (Gary B. Kaniuk, Doody’s Book Reviews, April, 2016)

This wide-ranging volume combines the current findings and frontline knowledge working practitioners need to know about forensic interviewing of children in sexual abuse cases. Coverage begins with the basics: legal and ethical principles, interview planning and procedure, psychometric and cultural issues, pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Perspectives from a trial lawyer and a district attorney lend real-life details on criminal court procedure, interview procedure, legal standards, and what is expected of expert witnesses. Not only is developmental understanding of salient issues concerning children's competency and suggestibility offered here, but also vital guidance on the controversies surrounding false memories and untrue accusations.

 Included in the coverage:

• Working with the multidisciplinary team.
• Childhood memory: an update from cognitive neuroscience.
• Disclosure failures: statistics, characteristics, and strategies to address them.Child abusers' threats and grooming techniques.
• Review of psychometrics of forensic interview protocols with children.
• Assessing the quality of forensic interviews with child witnesses.

Forensic Interviews Regarding Child Sexual Abuse brings a wealth of robust practical information to professionals working with children, including clinical and child psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.