Law Enforcement Response To Child Abuse

This guide provides information needed by law enforcement personnel to ensure consistency in child abuse investigations and offers useful suggestions on how police officers can work with physicians, respond to domestic disturbance calls, and place children in protective custody. The role of law enforcement in child abuse cases is to investigate, identify and apprehend the offender, and file appropriate criminal charges. The response of law enforcement to child abuse needs to be consistent, and police officers must be objective and proactive in child abuse investigations. The most effective approach to child abuse investigations is based on interagency coordination and planning. Social workers, physicians, therapists, prosecutors, judges, and police officers all have important roles to play. Police investigators should be trained and experienced in objectively investigating child abuse so they can interview children and interrogate suspected offenders. Important considerations in child abuse investigations are listed, along with procedures for working with medical professionals and obtaining medical examinations and procedures for handling domestic disturbance calls and placing a child in emergency protective custody. A sample child sexual assault protocol for use by police investigators and a list of organizations involved in child abuse investigations are included. 13 references.

Law enforcement's role in child abuse cases cannot be overstated. It spans the entire casefrom the initial call, through the investigation, to the court proceedings. Law enforcementofficers investigate and determine if a criminal law has been violated; identify and apprehend the offender; file appropriate criminal charges; and provide guidance and support to the child, family, and other agencies involved. Law enforcement's response needs to be constant and consistent. This guide provides the information officers need to ensure consistency, understand their importance as vital members of the multidisciplinary team, and recognize the value of effective procedures and protocols in guiding their work with other professionals to meet the needs of abused children.In most child abuse cases, law enforcement becomes involved in one of two ways—a referral from a school, physician, or agency (such as social services), or a direct call from a parent, child, or neighbor. Because of the complexity of child abuse cases, officers need to be well-trained to handle them. Child abuse cases have unique characteristics that make them particularly difficult to investigate. Children often make “perfect” victims for the following reasons:• They may not be able to protect themselves because of their physical and mental development.• They generally do not like to talk about the abuse. As a result, they may delay disclosureor tell only part of the story.

Provides the basis for the involvement of law enforcement agencies in combating the crime of child abuse and neglect. Intended to be used by local, State, tribal, and military law enforcement agencies. May also be useful to professionals involved in child abuse and neglect intervention such as CPS, education, mental health, legal, health care, and early childhood professionals to gain a better understanding of the role of law enforcement in child protection. Glossary, bibliography, and list of resources.