1. How to Talk to Child Victims
Hollie Strand
Trainer/Forensic Interviewer
Child Advocacy Center of the Black Hills
– A program of Children’s Home Society

2. Disclaimers Normal and extreme examples Graphic and uncomfortable
Use of the word “He”
Blunt and to the point
Using child sexual assault as the frame of reference

3. Prevalence of Child Abuse
Children and youth are the most criminally victimized age group.
60 percent of children ages birth-17 years old experienced victimization
Many experienced more than one type of abuse
Cases presented to DA, SAO, ASUA are seldom the first incident of abuse
David Finkelhor et el, “Violence, Abuse, and Crime Exposure in a National Sample of Children and Youth,” Pediatrics 124. no. 5 (2009): 3.

4. Child Sexual Abuse
Research suggests that one in every three to four girls and one in six boys will be the victim of some type of sexual abuse/assault before age 18.
Children with developmental delays and disabilities are 3 times more likely to be sexually abused.
You can do the math…this translates to almost 15 Million children who will be sexually abused or assaulted over the next 18 years!
US Department of Health and Human Services

5. Recognizing Child Sexual Abuse
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Reports nightmares or bedwetting
Regression in behaviors already mastered
Experiences a sudden change in appetite
Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/One With Courage

6. Recognizing Child Sexual Abuse
Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age 14
Runs away/Fear of going home
Risk-taking behaviors
Sexualized behaviors
Change in school performance
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/One With Courage

7. Difficulties with Prosecuting Child Sexual Abuse Cases
No evidence
No medical findings
No witnesses
Family Affairs
Child testimony
He said/ She said case

8. Difficulties with Prosecuting Child Sexual Abuse Cases
Lack of cooperation among agencies
Poor report writing
Poor court room testimony
Lack of confession/corroboration
Untrained prosecutors
Unwilling prosecutors
Uneducated juries

9. Stranger Danger???? Relationship to victims Father/birth
Friend/Friend of the family/Other known person
Mother's boyfriend
Brother (birth & step)
Cousin
Uncle
Step-father
Grandfather

10. Grooming Tactics used for grooming Measuring Pornography/Nudity
Body safety dialog
Accidents
Bathrooms

11. Grooming Tactics of grooming (cont)
Picking children less likely to tell
Threatening
Defining abuse for child
Child’s fault
Non-hurtful touches

12. Talking to Children About Abuse
Disclosure in NOT an event, it is a process
Types of disclosures
Purposeful
Accidental
Prompted
Piecemeal disclosure
Fantastic statements
Child Sexual Abuse: A Review of the Literature, THE JOHN JAY COLLEGE RESEARCH TEAM

13. Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome
Secrecy
Helplessness
Entrapment/Accommodation
Delayed, conflicted and unconvincing disclosures
Recantation
Dr. Roland Summit 1983

14. Child Development Determines What Children Can Tell Us
Important concepts to know when questioning children
“The trip to Disney Land”
3-5 year olds are most suggestible
10 and older less suggestible
Rules in the interview
I don’t know
Same question
Correct me
Ask a better question

15. Child Development Determines What Children Can Tell Us
Important concepts to know when questioning children
Promise to tell the truth
Leading and suggestive questions
Always given another option
Exploring for coaching
Time concepts
Multiple events

16. Child Advocacy Centers
Child Advocacy Centers were created to provide a coordinated response to child abuse investigations
Child Advocacy Centers provide services as part of an open investigation

17. Role of CAC Forensic Interviews Medical Evaluation Advocacy
Court Testimony
Training
Assist MDT partners with questioning children

18. Things to Consider when Questioning Children
“Any” vs. “Some”
Frame very question
No pronouns
Help the child understand the purpose of the questions
Scaffold your questions
“Feel like”, “look like”, “taste like” “sound like”

19. Things to Consider when Questioning Children
Use the words the child used in FI
Exact words trigger their memories
Children think all adults know everything
If a child is hesitant, ask the child what they need to feel more comfortable
Get creative, work with team

20. Considerations in CA Cases
FI is evidence
Child’s behavior is evidence
Child’s perception is everything
Expect no medical, no physical evidence and no witnesses
Interviewing for prosecution should be delicately

21. Considerations in CA Cases
Staffing cases
CACs work for their MDT
Educate professionals
Educate community

22. Conclusion Child cases are TOUGH cases
Bad questions = unpredictable and unreliable responses
Pride and ego have no place in these cases
Whoever is questioning the child needs to understand these dynamics
MDT discussion and collaboration is vital to success

23. Questions??? Hollie Strand hollie.strand@chssd.org 605-716-1628
Thank you and God Bless!!!