Criminal Psychology Chapter 8 Child Sexual Abuse Talbot Kellogg Community College

The McMartin Preschool Case ½ year old boy 2 ½ year old boy 200 parents were sent letters. 200 parents were sent letters. 400 children were assessed with 350 being suspected of having been abused. 400 children were assessed with 350 being suspected of having been abused. “1984 – Preliminary hearing (17 months) “1984 – Preliminary hearing (17 months) 1990 – Providers were acquitted on all charges – Providers were acquitted on all charges.

Issues What does this case highlight?

Child Abuse Statistics Fiction Batterers are psychopathic personalities. Batterers will stop once they get married. If a batterer is not hitting the child, he/she is not hurting the child. Police can protect the battered woman. Drinking causes battering. Battered women are uneducated. Batterers are unsuccessful.

Roles of the Psychologist Diagnostic in nature as it relates to the perpetrator. Sexual Paraphilia Pedophilia

Diagnostic criteria for Pedophilia (cautionary statement) Diagnostic criteria for Pedophilia (cautionary statement) cautionary statementcautionary statement A. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger). A. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger). B. The person has acted on these urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty. B. The person has acted on these urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty. C. The person is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A. C. The person is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A. Note: Do not include an individual in late adolescence involved in an ongoing sexual relationship with a 12- or 13-year-old. Note: Do not include an individual in late adolescence involved in an ongoing sexual relationship with a 12- or 13-year-old. Specify if: Specify if: Sexually Attracted to Males Sexually Attracted to Females Sexually Attracted to Both Sexually Attracted to Males Sexually Attracted to Females Sexually Attracted to Both Specify if: Specify if: Limited to Incest Limited to Incest Specify type: Specify type: Exclusive Type (attracted only to children) Nonexclusive Type Exclusive Type (attracted only to children) Nonexclusive Type Implications of this diagnosis? Implications of this diagnosis?

Roles of the Psychologist Evaluation of the child/ Adult for the presence of abuse. How?

Roles of the Psychologist Evaluation of the child/ Adult – assessing allegations. Interviewing technique dangers (Wood et. al.) Is content analysis the key?

Criteria for analyzing content (19 total)– Marxsen, Yuille and Nisbet (1995) 1. Coherence: Does the statement make sense? 2. Spontaneous reproduction: Rigid and rehearsed or spontaneous? 3. Sufficient detail: Is there the same amount of detail given in discussing the abusive event as non-abusive events? 4. Contextual imbedding: Is the account imbedded in a distinct time and space? 5. Descriptions of interactions Reproduction of conversation: Verbatim? Unexpected complications during the incident? Unusual details for a child to have made up? Peripheral details? Accurate reported details misunderstood? Self-deprecation? Pardoning the perpetrator? Details characteristic of the act the may not be common knowledge to a child?

How can the procedures be improved? Use language which___________________________. Refrain from________________________. Thorough _______________________.

Determination of Competency Age? Assessment of the child?

Children’s Rights During Testimony Goal of the attorneys? Use of screens or closed circuit TV in order to testify. Not upheld by the Supreme Court.