Child Abuse Expert: Their Crucial Role in Ensuring Justice
Child abuse is a distressing reality that has affected and still affects young lives and falsely-accused individuals across the globe. Being sensitive case and emotionally-driven cases, the allegation of physical/sexual child abuse requires a systematic and multidisciplinary approach to an investigation. The end goal is to administer justice to the legally guilty or not guilty party.
This blog explores the role of a physical/sexual child abuse expert in investigating cases for wounded innocents.
Who are Experts in Child Abuse?
Professionals with specialized knowledge, training, and skill sets to determine, protect, and address child abuse cases and who’ve tendered before Judges in Courts of Law are termed child abuse experts. Their primary goal is to protect the overall well-being and safety of both:
- Young children in cases of suspected or reported child abuse.
- Falsely accused individuals who have been accused wrongly.
We are a team of experts in managing cases of false accusations of child sexual abuse. The team of false allegations trial experts led by Dean Tong harnesses a structured plan of attack in countering unsubstantiated and false abuse allegations. Mr. Tong has at his fingertips colleagues and associates such as prohac vice attorneys, psychologists in sexual deviancy, polygraph examiners, false confessions experts, forensic pediatricians, Ph.D. Psychotherapists, Ph.D. Child Custody Evaluators and Ph.D./M.D. Experts in Parental Alienation, et al who can work in concert to help you clear your good name.
An expert in child abuse plays an equally crucial role in defending individuals who have been falsely accused of child abuse. They use their extensive expertise and deep understanding of child abuse cases in cognitive developmental child psychology and forensics to construct a robust defense strategy aimed at disputing the allegations and presenting compelling evidence that substantiates the innocence of the accused.
Here are some procedures that an expert in child abuse may undertake.
Evaluation and Assessment
The professional might examine and critique for source monitoring or not the allegations made against the accused individual. To do this, they can use the available evidence like medical reports and CPS reports to determine if any of the alleged accusations are consistent with the signs of actual abuse or not. The goal is to find inconsistencies or gaps in the evidence as well as the existence of bias . Said Expert examines the case for motive, method, means, opportunity and triggers to glean what outside factors may exist to spurn false or unfounded abuse allegations.
Expert Testimony
The professional might offer expert testimony during court proceedings to explain the nature of child abuse, the types of abuse, evidence based best practices methodologies, and the standard signs, symptoms and behaviors associated with it. The goal is to educate the judge, jury, and attorneys, et al involved about the complexities of child abuse allegations usually born via hearsay. Another goal is to challenge any misconceptions or biases.
Medical Examination and Analysis
In the case of physical abuse, the professional can conduct a thorough medical examination of the child involved to assess the child’s injuries. The objective is to identify the cause and deliver a professional opinion on whether the injuries are consistent with the alleged abuse or if there could be a different scenario. Alternative hypotheses are essential in these cases (ATSA, 2006).
Forensic Interviewing
Experts in child abuse are trained in forensic interviewing techniques, which are used to interview the child who made the allegations. They can conduct a sensitive and unbiased interview to gather accurate information via open-ended questioning eliciting free recall responses and assess the reliability of the child’s statements. This can help identify inconsistencies or suggest whether the child may have been coached or forced or influenced to make false accusations.
Expert Report
Based on an Attorney’s directive, the professional Expert drafts a detailed report that outlines his findings and expert opinions. It is then introduced into evidence onto the court record and used to support the defense’s case while impeaching the credibility of the oppositions case. The report might include any inconsistencies, scientific research, and literature that can substantiate the validity of the accusations, or not.
Takeaway!
The preceding section mentions some essential steps that a child abuse expert might follow in a case. Remember, the process may vary based on the jurisdiction and legal system in which the case is being tried. Further, the unique circumstances and available evidence are instrumental in creating the defense strategy.
In case you are the recipient of a false accusation of child sexual assault, contact us as soon as possible to offer professional guidance. Dean Tong is NOT an Attorney and cannot give legal advice.
