Forensic Interviews Regarding Child Sexual Abuse

William T. O'Donohue is professor and chairman of the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada--Reno. For the past 16 years Dr. O'Donohue has directed a free clinic supported by a National Institute of Justice grant which assesses and treats sexually abused children. He regularly testifies as an expert witness in this area and has published numerous books and articles in peer-reviewed journals on adolescent development, child sexual abuse, and forensic psychology. Dr. O'Donohue was an advisor to the DSM-V Work Group on Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association and is a member of the Nevada Attorney General's Victims of Crime Subcommittee. Matthew Fanetti is a professor in the Department of Psychology and director of the Forensic Child Psychology Certification Program at Missouri State University. He was the principal investigator of an NIMH grant through which he developed a structured forensic interview for assessing child sexual abuse and he also serves as an expert witness in this area. Dr. Fanetti is a member of the Association for Psychological Science.

Basic Issues.- Histgory of child forensic interviewing: important cases and trends. - How memory works.- Basic principles of interviewing children and adolescents.- Understanding suggestibility.- The major interviewing protocols: content and psychometrics.- Evaluating forensic interviews.- Understanding relevant case law and statutes.- Courtroom testimony and expert witnesses.- The process of disclosure for children.- Truth, lies and recantations.- Child abusers' threats and grooming.- Culture issues.- Working with others: the roles of the medical examination, prosecuter, defense.- Important Components of a Forsensic Interview.- Preparing for the interview.- What to avoid and how.- What to assess and how.- What to do when disclosure does not happen.- What to do in special cases.- Integrating information and drawing conclusions.

"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)