Investigating child fatalities / Bill Walsh.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Walsh, Bill

Contributor:

United States. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Series:

Portable guides to investigating child abuse

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Child abuse--Investigation--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Child abuse.

Children--United States--Death.

Children.

Sudden death in children--United States.

Sudden death in children.

Criminal investigation--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Criminal investigation.

Child abuse--Investigation.

Children--Death.

United States.

Genre:

handbooks.

manuals (instructional materials)

Handbooks and manuals.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (iii, 30 pages)

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, [2005]

Summary:

This guide offers law enforcement officers concise, practical information in the effective investigation of child fatalities. Every year in the United States, tens of thousands of children die from a variety of causes, including illnesses, diseases, accidents, suicides, and homicides. The tragedy of a child's sudden death is a loss which can be compounded if law enforcement fails to conduct a proper investigation. Flawed investigations can result in two outcomes: (1) an innocent person will be suspected or accused of either a crime that did not occur or the accused did not commit or (2) a real crime will remain undetected or unsolved. The purpose of this portable guide is to provide practical information for law enforcement officers investigating child fatality cases, cases where investigators believe abuse or neglect caused or contributed to the fatal injury of the child. It is also useful for child protective service and other professionals involved in these cases. The guide provides information on the nature of child fatality cases, how child fatalities differ from other types of homicide cases, the roles of child protective services and law enforcement, conducting the investigation, documenting the case, interrogation, and testifying in court. Professionally conducted investigations of child fatalities ensure that innocent people are not falsely accused of wrongdoing and guilty people are not allowed to escape justice and potentially harm another child. Resources.

Contents:

Overview

Key points. The nature of child fatality cases

How child fatalities differ from other types of homicide cases

The roles of child protective services and law enforcement

Conducting the child fatality investigation

Documenting the case

Interrogating suspects

Testifying in court

Conclusion

Resources

Checklists

Tips and reminders.

Notes:

Title from title screen (viewed on August 18, 2006).

"August 2005."

Other Format:

Walsh, Bill. Investigating child fatalities

OCLC:

70956524