PRACTICE PARAMETERS FOR THE FORENSIC EVALUATION OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY OR SEXUALLY ABUSED

These practice parameters describe the forensic evaluation of children and adolescents who may have been physically or sexually abused. The recommendations are drawn from guidelines that have been published by various professional organizations and authors and are based on availa ble scientific research and the current state of clinical practice. Th ese parameters consider the clinical presentation of abused children, normative sexual behavior of children, interview techniques, the possi bility of false statements, the assessment of credibility, and importa nt forensic issues. These parameters were approved by Council of the A merican Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in September 1996.