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Base rates, multiple indicators, and comprehensive forensic evaluations: why sexualized behavior still counts in assessments of child sexual abuse allegations
- Authors:
- EVERSON Mark D., FALLER Kathleen Coulborn
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 21(1), January 2012, pp.45-71.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour has long been viewed as a possible indicator of child sexual abuse. However, Kuehnle and Connell's book, The Evaluation of Child Sexual Abuse Allegations: A Comprehensive Guide to Assessment and Testimony (2009), seriously challenges the utility of sexualised behaviour in forensic assessments of alleged child sexual abuse. The purpose of this paper is to argue against the conclusions reached in this book. It discusses why aberrant and precocious sexual behaviour can be an outcome of sexual abuse, and examines the multiple roles that such sexual behaviour problems play as abuse indicators in the forensic assessment process. The paper addresses a number of the concerns that have been raised about the diagnostic value of sexualised behaviour, including the claim that when population base rates for abuse are properly taken into account, the diagnostic value of sexualised behaviour is insignificant. It also identifies a best practice comprehensive evaluation model with a methodology that is effective in mitigating such concerns.
Contested issues in the evaluation of child sexual abuse allegations: why consensus on best practice remains elusive
- Authors:
- FALLER Kathleen Coulborn, EVERSON Mark D.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 21(1), January 2012, pp.3-18.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Kuehnle and Connell's edited volume The Evaluation of Child Sexual Abuse Allegations: A Comprehensive Guide to Assessment and Testimony (2009) challenges, if not condemns, the validity of established forensic methodology. The book clearly places a greater emphasis on specificity (assuring that children are not mistakenly identified as sexual abuse victims) than sensitivity (assuring that sexual abuse victims are not missed). This paper is an introductory article to a special issue of the Journal of Childhood Sexual Abuse that responds to the challenges to current forensic evaluation practice found in this book. It describes the topics that are addressed in the journal issue, summarises the contents of the Kuehnle and Connell book, and provides a hypothetical case to illustrate potential problems in applying certain perspectives and guidelines offered in the book to actual forensic practice.
Techniques employed by forensic interviewers conducting extended assessments: results from a multi-site study
- Authors:
- FALLER Kathleen Coulborn, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma, 20(3), April 2011, pp.237-259.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Investigating child sexual abuse presents unique challenges. While physical abuse is typically determined by a child’s injuries and physical neglect by the child’s condition, child sexual abuse is usually determined by the child’s words or demonstrations. This study examined extended assessments of 137 children suspected of sexual abuse and explored what interview techniques evaluators use and what techniques provide the best information related to sexual abuse. Analysis revealed that the more frequently used techniques were general assessment activities; touching education; non-leading, abuse-focused questions; and prevention education. Infrequently used techniques were anatomical dolls, standard anatomical drawings, and narrative elaboration. However, techniques with higher yields of confirmatory details about sexual abuse were anatomical dolls, cognitive interviews, and narrative elaboration. Lower yield techniques were general assessment activities, touch education, hand-drawn anatomical drawings, and prevention education. Implications for practice as presented.
Extended evaluations in cases of child sexual abuse: how many sessions are sufficient?
- Authors:
- FALLER Kathleen Coulborn, NELSON-GARDELL Debra
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 19(6), November 2010, pp.648-668.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This US study examines the issue of a multiple interview format, or extended evaluation, as an approach to use with children who fail to disclose sexual abuse, but for whom concerns remain. The study involved 18 forensic interview sites of 137 children who were randomly assigned to a four or eight session extended evaluation. Cases assigned to the eight session protocol were significantly more likely to be classified 'credible disclosure' of sexual abuse than cases assigned to the four session protocol and significantly less likely to be classified 'credible nondisclosure' of sexual abuse (9.2%) than cases in the four session protocol (24.6%). When four versus eight sessions, demographic variables, and case characteristics were entered into a regression, variables that predicted likelihood of sexual abuse were eight session protocol, older victim age, and caretaker belief the child had been sexually abused. When new disclosures were examined by session in the eight session protocol, 95% of new disclosures occurred by the sixth session.
Allegations of sexual abuse of a child: what to do when a single forensic interview isn't enough
- Authors:
- FALLER Kathleen Coulborn, CORDISCO-STEELE Linda, NELSON-GARDELL Debra
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 19(5), September 2010, pp.572-589.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
When child sexual abuse is suspected in the United States, best practice dictates that the child should be interviewed by a forensic interviewer. This interview should gather evidence to be used in case decisions. As such, this paper examines the state of current knowledge about extended assessments and forensic evaluations in situations of possible sexual abuse. It provides a critical review of relevant research, describes two models for extended assessments, and presents descriptive survey findings of 62 professionals conducting extended assessments, most of whom conduct extended assessments intermittently as part of their other work on sexual abuse cases. In conclusion, the paper suggests that agencies should consider conducting extended assessments with young or traumatised children in complex child sexual abuse cases, and cases where sexual abuse allegations are not resolved with a single interview.
Commitment of private and public agency workers to child welfare: how long do they plan to stay?
- Authors:
- JAYARATNE Srinika, FALLER Kathleen Coulborn
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Service Research, 35(3), 2009, pp.251-261.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
It is estimated that more than half of foster care services are provided by private agencies. This study investigates whether public or private child welfare agencies may provide the better foster care services by examining the workforce commitment of public and private foster care workers when they begin their jobs. Child welfare professionals completing training to work in foster care were asked about their reasons for taking their position, commitment to their agencies, and commitment to child welfare. Analyses compared responses from new public agency foster care workers, public agency workers making lateral transfers to foster care, and new private foster care workers. The results indicated that private agency foster care workers were less committed to their agencies and to child welfare, and were more likely to have taken the position because it was the only one available. The article concludes that the practice by public child welfare of outsourcing foster care services to agencies needs to be evaluated. At the very least, greater emphasis should be placed on the quality of the workforce in a given agency. Attention should also be paid to the gathering of more systematic data on outcomes with regard to the impact of outsourcing.
Mother-blaming in the shadow of incest: commentary on "motherhood in the shadow of incest" by Rachel Lev-Wiesel
- Author:
- FALLER Kathleen Coulborn
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 16(1), 2007, pp.129-136.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This commentary addresses the issue of the mother's role in incest. It then provides comments on methodology used in the article by Lev-Wiesel in a previous issue of the 'Journal of Child Sexual Abuse'. Finally the author offers a brief observation about the omission of discussion sex offenders. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Allegations of sexual abuse in divorce
- Authors:
- FALLER Kathleen Coulborn, DeVOE Ellen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 4(4), 1995, pp.1-25.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Examines a clinical sample of cases of allegations of sexual abuse in families also involved in divorce. In addition, clinical substantiation (found in 72.65 of cases) and lack thereof are examined in terms of their relation to case characteristics assumed to be indicative of a true allegation: offender confession, offender conviction, medical/police evidence, other victims and witnesses, information from significant others, information from other professionals, and child review data. Legal outcomes, including protection of the child, court substantiation, and any sanctions against the complainant, and their relationships to case characteristics, are also described.
A clinical sample of women who have sexually abused children
- Author:
- FALLER Kathleen Coulborn
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 4(3), 1995, pp.13-30.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Describes a study of a clinical sample of 72 women who allegedly sexually abused 332 children. The sample was examined from a number of different perspectives including whether the abuse was intrafamilial, extrafamilial, or both; and whether the abuse involved multiple or solo intrafamilial or extrafamilial offenders. Social situation factors and individual deficits that might lead women to sexually abuse children are examined. Case outcomes, including the number of confessions, criminal prosecution, and protection of victims are described.
Commentary on the children forgotten in the interdisciplinary consensus statement
- Author:
- FALLER Kathleen Coulborn
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 3(4), 1994, pp.115-121.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Argues that the NICHD consensus statement does not fully recognise the patterns of disclosure and non-disclosure of many children.