NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ960199
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 7
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-8712
EISSN: N/A
"Nobody's Perfect"--Partial Disagreement with Herman, Faust, Bridges, and Ahern
Myers, John E. B.
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, v21 n2 p203-209 2012
Determining whether a child was sexually abused is a tremendous clinical and legal challenge. In litigation, abuse is established--proven--with evidence. Evidence includes testimony from witnesses, hearsay statements, documents, and physical evidence such as semen, genital injury, and fingerprints. There are two types of witnesses: lay witnesses (sometimes called percipient witnesses) and expert witnesses. In sexual abuse litigation, expert testimony is provided by medical and mental health professionals. Whereas physicians and nurses describe physical evidence of abuse, mental health professionals describe psychological evidence of abuse. Both types of expert testimony are complicated and, to varying degrees, controversial. Because accurate expert testimony is so critical, Kathryn Kuehnle and Mary Connell's 2009 book "The Evaluation of Child Sexual Abuse Allegations: A Comprehensive Guide to Assessment and Testimony" is an important contribution to the literature. Bringing together many of the world's leading experts, Kuehnle and Connell's book materially advances the field. Yet, like any scholarly endeavor, aspects of Kuehnle and Connell's book are subject to critique and disagreement. Indeed, some points in their book are, to the author's way of thinking, not only open to debate but are just plain wrong. (Contains 3 notes.)
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A