Chapter 13: Crimes Against Children: Child Abuse, Fatalities, and Sexual Exploitation

preferential molester

A child molester who has sexual desires focusing on children and typically has a more identifiable psychological disorder.

regressed child molester

A child molester who views the victim as a substitute for an adult partner.

battered child syndrome

A clinical term referring to the collection of injuries sustained by a child as a result of repeated mistreatment or beating.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy

A clinical term referring to when a parent or caretaker attempts to bring medical attention to himself or herself by inducing illness in his or her children.

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

A diagnosis made when there is no other medical explanation for the abrupt death of an apparently healthy infant.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)

A medical term for murder of infants who are violently shaken.

tolerance

A physical condition that develops when a person needs increasing doses of a drug to experience its initial effects.

acute neglect

A term commonly associated with child abuse when a perpetrator is responsible to provide care for a victim who is unable to care for himself or herself, but fails to provide adequate care.

battery

An intentional non-consensual bodily contact that a reasonable person would consider harmful.

child abuse

Another term for child molestation

Section 2

Changing Views of Child Abuse and Maltreatment

Section 3

Child Fatalities

Section 7

Child Molester Profiles

situational molester

Child molester who commits such crimes because of one of several external factors. These include intoxication, drug abuse, mood or mental conditions, or other social conditions.

battered child

Children who suffer from physical abuse.

exploitation

Commonly used in context with sexual exploitation, which is the use of sexual material that focuses on a particular person who is an unwilling contributor.

*Competency to Testify (C.Y.U.):* What are the qualities that judges use to determine a child's competency to testify?

Correct Answer(s): Child's age; sense of moral and legal responsibility; and capacity to observe, recollect, and communicate events.

*Components of Child Pornography (C.Y.U.):* Howard is a child pornography enthusiast. He accesses images of child pornography via the Internet daily, but never saves the images to his computer. Instead he only views the images on dark websites. Which component of child pornography is Howard engaged in? A.) Downloading B.) Distribution C.) Production

Correct Answer: A.) Downloading ~ *Explanation:* Even though Howard never saves the images he views, the fact that he accesses and views them is enough to constitute *downloading*.

*Taking the Lead in a Child Abuse Case (C.Y.U.):* A child protective services worker tells the responding police officer that he has over 20 years on the job and will assume the lead on the investigation of a case of parental child abuse. Should the officer allow the CPS worker to take the lead? A.) Yes B.) No C.) It depends

Correct Answer: B.) No ~ *Explanation:* The police officer must take the lead because the police have the legal mandate to execute search warrants, collect and evaluate evidence, and file criminal charges. CPS personnel do not determine if a crime has been committed and are not trained as criminal investigators.

*Which Type of Crime Against Children (C.Y.U.):* Stephanie is a new mother to a baby girl named Sadie. During the first six months after Sadie was born, Stephanie called the paramedics six times and brought her child into the hospital another twelve times. Each time, medical personnel could not find anything wrong with Sadie. Stephanie remained adamant that there was something medically wrong with her baby. For what type of crime is Stephanie suspect? A.) Child neglect B.) Sudden infant death syndrome C.) Shaken baby syndrome D.) Munchausen syndrome by proxy

Correct Answer: D.) Munchausen syndrome by proxy ~ *Explanation:* *Munchausen syndrome by proxy* is a psychological disorder in which a patient (in this case Stephanie, the mother) fabricates symptoms of disease or injury in his/her child (Sadie) in order to undergo medical tests, hospitalization, or even medical or surgical treatment.

*Stepwise Interview Questions (C.Y.U.):* After a child victim mentions that her attacker had tattoos on his arm, the investigator asks the child, "talk about the tattoos your attacker had." What type of question is this? A.) Specific question B.) Leading question C.) Suggestive question D.) Open-ended question

Correct Answer: D.) Open-ended question ~ *Explanation:* This is an invitation to provide information about an event or activity or prompt to elaborate on previously given information.

*Profiling a Child Molester (C.Y.U.):* Sam, a child molester, grew up in a normal, loving home and has had many "successful" relationships with adult women. Sam only victimizes children when he drinks too much and does drugs. If he is not intoxicated, he does not think of children in any type of sexual manner. Which molester profile fits Sam? A.) Regressed child molester B.) Preferential molester C.) Fixated molester D.) Situational molester

Correct Answer: D.) Situational molester ~ *Explanation:* This type of molester does not necessarily suffer from any specified psychological disorder but may commit such crimes because of one of several external factors.

*Forensic Interviewing (C.Y.U.):* In a child abuse case, the forensic interview is critical to successful prosecution. Proper conduct of the forensic interview requires using certain techniques and avoiding others. Choose which techniques are acceptable and which are not recommended.

Correct Answers: *Acceptable:* ~ Use neutral body language ~ Ask open-ended questions ~ Record the interview *Not Recommended:* ~ Use multiple interviewers ~ Ask suggestive questions ~ Have a child's relative in the room for support

*Types of Child Maltreatment (C.Y.U.):* Identify the characteristics of each type of maltreatment.

Correct Answers: *Acute Maltreatment:* ~ Death directly related to specific incident ~ Example: shaken baby syndrome *Acute Neglect:* ~ Injuries caused by one-time failure to supervise ~ Example: child drowned in pool *Chronic Maltreatment:* ~ Death caused by neglect over a period of time ~ Example: battered child syndrome

direct evidence

Evidence that is directly experienced. Usually the experience is by sight or hearing, though it may come through any sense, including touch or pain.

Section 6

Interviewing the Initial Reporter -- building Rapport

chronic maltreatment

Occurs when a child's death is directly related to injuries caused by maltreatment or neglect occurring over an extended period.

child molester

One who engages in some form of child exploitation.

fixated child molester

One whose primary sexual orientation is toward children and whose sociosexual maturation develops as a result of unresolved conflicts in his or her development.

Section 4

Physical Abuse and Other Types of Abuse Against Children

premeditation

Planning beforehand that shows intent to commit a criminal act.

incest

Sexual relations between children and their parents.

Section 1

The Abuse of Children

pedophilia

The basis of sexual misconduct with children.

child protective services

The name of a *governmental agency* in many *states* of the *United States* that responds to reports of *child abuse* and neglect.

child molestation

The physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of children.

acquaintance molestation

The sexual abuse of children by persons known to them other than family.

acute maltreatment

When a child's death is directly related to injuries suffered as a result of a specific incident of abuse or act of negligence.