1 Improving Law Enforcement Skills to Improve Outcomes for Victims 9th National Strengthening Indian Nations Justice for Victims of Crime Conference December 11, 2004

2 Victimology „ Why children? „ Are there discernable “at risk” characteristics? „ Are they the perfect victim?

3 Victim Selection „ Vulnerable to predator „ Accessibility „ Availability „ Covetous (see over and over) „ Undefendable prey „ Fantasy „ Damaged goods

4 Children – The Ideal Victims „ Naturally curious „ Easily led by adults „ Need for affection and attention „ Need to defy adults „ Children are poor witnesses „ Sexual acts may be difficult to discern as criminal

5 Challenges Faced by the Victimized Child „ Embarrassment „ Shame „ Fears of feeling responsible „ Fears of being blamed „ Fear of being punished „ Fear of exposure/labels „ Fear of court process „ Fear that no one will believe them

6 Factors that Govern how Children React to Abuse „ Developmental stage of child at time of abuse „ Duration of the abuse „ Support systems available to child – Reaction by parents – Sensitivity of intervening agencies „ Sophistication of the child „ Environment within which the abuse occurred

7 Factors that Govern how Children React to Abuse

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department „ Relationship of offender to child „ Severity of the abuse „ Degree of physical force „ Degree of psychological duress „ Degree of participation by child „ Sex of child/sex of offender

8 Behavioral Indicators of the Sexually Abused Child „ Overly compliant “sexualized child” „ Acting out aggressive behaviors „ Hints at sexuality „ Persistent and inappropriate sexual play – Peers –Toys – Themselves – Others „ Detailed and age inappropriate sexual behavior

9 Behavioral Indicators of the Sexually Abused Child „ Inability to make friends/sudden change of friends „ Lack of trust „ Non-participation in school events „ Inability to concentrate in school „ Extraordinary fears/phobias „ Self destructive behavior „ Sleep disturbances

10 Behavioral Indicators of the Sexually Abused Child „ Regressive behavior „ Social and emotional withdrawal „ Depression „ Suicidal feelings „ Loss of appetite „ Sudden change in mood „ Bedwetting „ Clinginess

11 Behavioral Indicators of the Sexually Abused Child „ Anal behaviors – Excessive hand washing – Excessive bathing – Excessive concern over appearance „ Sexual identity and gender role confusion „ Problem with self image „ Manipulativeness

12 Family Dynamics of the Sexually Abused Child

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department „ Parentification (mother/daughter role reversal) „ Over protectiveness of the child victim „ Extreme paternal dominance „ Extreme maternal dominance „ Social isolation

13 Family Dynamics of the Sexually Abused Child „ Exposure of victim to multiple male partners of mother „ Little or no supervision, controls, or limits for the child „ Unstable family environment „ Zealous, fundamental religious philosophy that stresses punishment for sexual expression and experimentation

14 Other Characteristics „ Has an unusual amounts of money, new toys, clothes, or other possessions „ Spends more than the normal amount of time at recreation areas, theaters, and other juvenile hangouts „ Spends an inordinate amount of time in the company of the adult with whom they are sexually active

15 Stages Where Victimization Occurs „ Object of perpetrator’s desire „ Sexual victimization „ Internalization of victimization „ Outcry „ Parental/Familial response to outcry „ Criminal/Civil intervention and forensic interview „ Living with consequence „ Testifying in court „ Criminal/Civil disclosure

16 „ We must be open to the exceptional issues of case

„ Our tendency is to disbelieve/discount that which makes us uncomfortable

„ This field of Child Abuse Investigation is unlike any other aspect of Law Enforcement

„ Unlike lay people, where it is understandable that they disbelieve the prevalence of CA, we have direct access to case information that this does occur

17 The Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome „ Roland C. Summitt, M.D. (Child Abuse & Neglect Vol. 7, pgs. 177-193, 1983) „ An attempt to understand the ways in which children react to sexual abuse „ Five categories for typical reactions „ Recognizes that most children are “groomed” within a familial situation „ Are chosen for being compliant and least likely to complain „ Offender builds on child’s “trust”/need for affection

18 The Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department „ Is a model, not a clinical diagnosis –Secrecy – Helplessness – Entrapment/accommodation – Delayed, conflicted and unconvincing disclosure –Retraction

19 Secrecy „ Threats – spoken, implied, child or loved one „ Physically abused child afraid of continued abuse „ Promises of safety for child and loved ones if victim keeps secret „ Children long for approval and affection, may keep silent for fear of losing parents love and approval

20 Helplessness „ They lack the ability to escape „ Easy for powerful adults to overcome „ Attempts to protect themselves fail, victim believes (s)he is helpless „ Eventually victim stops trying to protect herself „ Many in chronic situations begin to withdraw emotionally, psychologically „ See PTSD, dissociative disorders definition

21 Entrapment and Accommodation „ Chronic secrecy, helplessness cause the child to feel trapped „ Acceptance of the situation becomes a form of survival „ Chronic SXAB children make sense of power and control or blame themselves for continuing abuse; this is affirmed by the perpetrator, i.e., “Daddy’s Little Girl” „ PHAB children believe they deserve abuse because of bad behavior

22 Entrapment and Accommodation „ EMAB/neglected children find “I deserve it” systems of belief in themselves

„ PTSD/dissociative disorders are usually present

23 Delayed, Conflicted and Unconvincing Disclosure „ Iceberg Effect „ Adults who ask a victim about abuse PRIOR to child’s decision to tell must recognize the questions may create an acute emotional or psychological crisis for the child „ Subsequent disclosures may be fraught with anxiety, retractions and inconsistencies, i.e., unconvincing „ Remember that defense mechanisms employed to help the child cope may produce fragmented or repressed memory

24 Retraction „ Children who disclose may be flooded with guilt, fear, blame, betrayal, confusion

„ Adult responses are conflictual and frightening – foster care, arrest, multiple interviews, scorn of sibling(s), examinations (secondary victimization)

„ Children may gravitate back to abusive world (s)he knows (abusive anomaly)

„ Remember: children may love their abuser, not the abuse

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department 25 Delayed Disclosures of Childhood Sexual Abuse „ Retrospective phone study – 3220 respondents via random dialing method – N=288 – Over age 18 „ Rape defined as vaginal, anal, penile or object penetration „ 28% never told anyone „ 47% had not disclosed for at least 5 years after the rape „ 25% disclosed abuse within a month

26 The Sexualized Child „ Occurs when victim’s sexual feelings, attitudes and behavior are shaped by a developmentally inappropriate and interpersonally dysfunctional fashion as the result of sexual victimization

27 Four Stages of Sexually Abused Children „ Traumatic sexualization

„ Betrayal

„ Powerlessness

„ Stigmatization

28 Traumatic Sexualization „ Child is sexually eroticized/objectified by offender

„ Child is “conditioned” for sexual behavior and subsequently rewarded with affection, attention and gifts for that behavior – Over a long period of time (chronic), victim may learn to manipulate others with this cycle of sexual awareness

29 Traumatic Sexualization „ Perpetrators fetishize and distort parts of child’s body, giving the body part more meaning and significance

„ Morally and developmentally confusing information

„ Frightening experience, memories, events become paired with sexual victimization

30 Traumatic Sexualization: Behaviors and Outcomes „ Repetitive sexual preoccupation, compulsive sex play

„ Sexual interest inappropriate for age

„ Sexual aggression

„ Promiscuity/older sexual partners

„ Aversion to sexual activities

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department „ Sexual dysfunctions

31 Traumatic Sexualization: Behaviors and Outcomes „ For youth, boys fear that the victimization may cause them to become homosexuals; girls fear they are no longer virgins, or their future sexual partners will be able to “tell”

„ Sexual norm confusion occurs in future relationships, i.e., victim “traded sex” for the attention of the abuser. Victim may view this as normal way to give and obtain affection

32 Traumatic Sexualization: Behaviors and Outcomes „ If the child’s memory of sexual contact during victimization was one of revulsion, fear, pain, anger or other negative emotions, this pairing may effect later sexual experiences – This aversion may account for sexual dysfunctions of victims

33 Betrayal „ Refers to the dynamic by which children discover that their perpetrator, whom they were vitally dependent upon, has caused them harm, or the child believes the adult knew the victimization was taking place but did nothing to protect them

34 Betrayal „ Trusted person (perpetrator) manipulated them with lies, promises and erosion of moral standards

„ Victim learns that person (perpetrator) they trusted has actually treated them with callous disregard

35 Betrayal „ Family member, especially mother, who knew of victimization but was unwilling or unable to protect the child

„ Family members whose attitude towards the victim has significantly changed (post disclosure)

36 Betrayal 1 „ Trusted person „ Loving father who offends at later age „ Natural siblings’ rejection

2 „ Stranger „ Immoral stepfather who is sexually aggressive „ Stepbrother support of perpetrator

37 Betrayal: Behaviors and Outcomes „ Severe levels of grief and depression emanate from victim’s abuse by a trusted loved one

„ Victim’s need to reestablish trust and security may manifest itself in clinginess and

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department dependent behavior in the very young victim; in adults, impaired judgment (broken radar) and issues of over dependency

38 Betrayal: Behaviors and Outcomes „ Female victims of incest have a markedly high vulnerability to relationships which are physically, psychologically and sexually abusive. In extreme circumstances, they fail to recognize obvious red flags when these partners become sexually abusive toward their children

„ Internalization

39 Betrayal: Behaviors and Outcomes „ For adult male victims, future relationships are affected by anger, hostility and aggressive behavior. These behaviors are recognized as the victim’s way of protecting themselves from future betrayals

„ Externalization

40 Powerlessness „ The process in which the child victim’s will, desires and sense of efficacy are continually contravened. The child’s sense of self, body space, territory or boundary are repeatedly violated against the child’s will

„ It is reinforced when children’s attempt to halt or disclose the abuse fails

„ It increases when children feel fear and a circumstantial entrapment in the abusive situation

41 Powerlessness: Behaviors and Outcomes „ Fear/anxiety and disorders related to them; these fears and disorders can extend into adulthood – Nightmares, phobias, somatic complaints

„ Effect on efficacy and coping skills, fear of being revictimized, innate fear of the inability to protect oneself and fear of ineffectiveness in life, relationships, school, work, etc.

„ High risk of revictimization – looking/acting like a victim; attracts predators

42 Powerlessness: Behaviors and Outcomes „ Another reaction to powerlessness, some sexual abuse victims (especially male victims) may have a dysfunctional need to control or dominate (power) – Appear to be tough, aggressive, fearsome, to retain the power they lost to the offender; the victim recognizes with the offender, thus becomes the offender

43 Stigmatization „ Victim’s personal feelings of badness, shame, guilt are communicated to the victim through circumstances and experiences that become incorporated into the child’s self image

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department „ From the abuser who may blame victim for activity, demean the victim or furtively convey a sense of shame about the sexually abusive behavior

44 Stigmatization „ Pressure of mutual secrecy

„ Messages from family, friends, society, media that says sexual abuse victims have loose morals, are damaged goods, etc.

45 Stigmatization: Behaviors and Outcomes „ Feelings of aloneness, isolation, gravitation to deviate subcultures, including prostitution

„ Drug/alcohol abuse, criminal activity

„ Self-destructive behavior, including suicide

„ Guilt/shame/low self esteem reinforced by societies perception of the victim as spoiled merchandise, etc.

„ Intense fears of rejection and oddness

46 Defense Mechanisms 1 „ Repression „ Suppression „ Denial „ Reaction Formation „ Rationalization „ Projection

2 „ Identification „ Displacement „ Sublimation „ Isolation „ Regression „ Conversion

47 Recantation „ Does not mean all is lost

„ Does not mean it did not happen

„ Does mean other factors are at play

„ Does mean there is more work to be done

48 Recantation Risk Factors „ Abuse is by a family member or friend of family

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department „ Threats

„ Hostility to disclosure by family members

„ Lack of support by family members

„ Expressed support for offender by family, church, community

„ Denial by offender

49 Recantation Risk Factors „ Continued contact of offender

„ Failure of intervening agencies to address other family violence, neglect, abuse in home

„ Repeated questioning of victim

„ Lack of coordination of investigative/support agencies

„ Failure of investigator to acknowledge that children of survivors are more than two-times more likely to be abused

50 Recantation Risk Factors „ Women who were abused are two-times as likely to abuse their children

„ Lack of/usage of protective orders

„ System delays

„ Child placement after disclosure

„ No vertical prosecution

51 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ No Q & A

„ “Think” engaging in an age-appropriate conversation

„ Must find a way to relate at the child, preteen, teen level

52 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ Do not assume what a word means; clarify everything – “He did sex to me.” What is sex?

„ May miss details (she may never repeat)

„ Adult used to taking the lead

„ Officers tend to be impatient, coach, anticipate, what child is going to say (tired of listening)

53 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ Victim who is a runaway, party girl, or who lives within a criminal culture environment

„ “She’s a little slut; she deserved it”

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department „ Drug and alcohol abuser, mini skirts, tattoos, piercings, sexualized behavior, town tramp, cross tracks

„ “Which came first?”

54 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ 12-16 years of age „ Issues of incest „ Consent „ Outcry validity „ Cognitive manipulation „ Alcohol or other usage

55 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ Serves no purpose for officer to indicate your opinion – ever

„ Overhearing other officers/witnesses

„ Remember: the very definition of incest is severe dysfunctionality, where children are victims of adult behavior

56 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ Remove barriers

„ Never at a desk

„ Address the victim’s “FEARS”

57 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ Avoid statements implying blame; avoid the “What did you do?”

„ Remember that the child has no responsibility in what occurred and be sure questions reflect this – Example: “Did you put your mouth on his penis?” “No. He made me put his penis in my mouth.”

58 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ Child may be – Overwhelmed – Fatigued

„ The younger the child the shorter their attention span

59 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ Soften your tone, volume, pitch

„ Ask one question at a time

„ Be comfortable with silence; allow the child time to process

60 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department 61 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ If you are not the type of officer who can handle listening to a five-year old talk about her father ejaculating in her face, then don’t put yourself in that position

„ Children can read your emotions and will react to you

62 Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers „ Don’t forget to call CPS

63 Insensitivity is Fostered by „ Ignorance

„ Complacency

„ Laziness

„ Fear

„ Past

64 Dissociation

65 Dissociation „ Is a universal survival response

„ When an abusive incident (sexual, physical, witness DV) occurs and is more than a child’s mind can tolerate, he/she must ESCAPE

„ Human (psychological instinct) to survive “kicks in”

66 Dissociation „ Small in size, vulnerable

„ Dependent

„ Developmentally, need for nurturance

„ Ill equipped to integrate traumatic/abusive experiences

„ Many are left with no alternative except to dissociate

67 Dissociation „ Occurs on a continuum ranging from normal experiences to extreme Multiple Personality Disorder

„ Examples of “Normal” dissociation – Highway hypnosis – Engrossed in television (movie) – Daydreaming

„ Duration is brief, individual realizes the dissociation occurred, and quickly reestablishes control

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department 68 Dissociation „ It becomes a primary defense rather than an emergency measure

„ Individual (victim) cannot reestablish control

„ Victim has no awareness of dissociation

69 Dissociation „ Multiple abusers

„ Violent or sadistic

„ Onset of abuse at an early age

„ Chronic/abuse over extended period of time

„ Perpetrator is a known loved one who otherwise has a nurturing role

70 Behaviors Associated with Dissociation „ Impulsive/compulsive/self abusive behaviors – Spending – Stealing – Self-mutilation – Substance abuse –Exercising – Cleaning – Accident proneness –Promiscuity

71 Behaviors Associated with Dissociation „ Inability to remember recent events – Loss of time

„ Panic attacks

„ Anxiety

„ Phobias

„ History of disorganized behavior – Inability to complete – Easily distracted – Forgetfulness

72 Behaviors Associated with Dissociation „ Behavioral manifestations –Staring – Rocking (repetitive movement) – Rigidity in body – Unresponsiveness – Flat affect while reciting or thinking of abuse

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department – Seizure-like behavior – Regressive behaviors ™ Voice, posture, habits

73 Verbal Cues to Past Dissociation „ I left my body and went to the ceiling „ I don’t know what happened to me or my brother „ I saw it happen to this other little boy „ I knew it was happening but I thought about something else „ I remember him walking in the door, and the next thing I remember is him walking out „ He came over to the bed, turned out the light. . . and I went out to play (intra-interview amnesia)

74 Physical or Medical Indicators of Sexual Abuse „ Hymenal disruption, presenting as scars, tears, or abrasions „ Injuries of the posterior forchette in girls (area between the vagina and the anus) „ Significant anal relaxation or the presence of large anal scars „ Presence of sexually transmitted diseases and such things as genital warts

75 Physical or Medical Indicators of Sexual Abuse „ Chronic irritation about the genitals „ Pregnancy „ Presence of semen in vagina, rectum, mouth, or on other parts of the body

76 Normal Child Development Age 0-2 „ Body exploration „ Physiological/Reflexive reactions (erections, vaginal lubrication) „ Sensuality begins to develop via nurturing touch, e.g., nursing, hugging, face to face cooing

„

77 Normal Child Development Age 2-6 „ Gender difference awareness „ Curiosity expressed via looking and touching „ Awareness of difference between adults and children „ Curiosity expressed via questions, e.g., why is daddy’s penis bigger than mine „ Poop and pee talk

78 Normal Child Development Age 2-6 „ Self exploration/discovery for self stimulation evident „ If not educated, primitive theories of where babies come from „ Little modesty exhibited „ Gender identity established

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department 79 Normal Child Development Age 6-11 „ Non-exploitative sexual contact with others „ Heterosexual interest increases „ Masturbation in private „ Increasing interest sexually explicit materials „ Awareness that SEX is taboo „ Increasing modesty

80 Normal Child Development Age 6-11 „ Sexual play more secretive „ Sexual language (slang) used with little understanding of actual meaning, e.g., faggot, pervert „ Early puberty menarche, wet dreams „ Development of secondary characteristics „ Sex role identity established

81 Normal Child Development Age 11-18 „ Pubescent changes continue „ Masturbation continues possibly with shame „ Sexual talk common „ Adult-like sexual experimentation „ Homosexual experimentation is seen „ Sexual harassment by others may occur

82 Normal Sexual Play vs. Problematic Sexual Behavior

83 Normal Sexual Play „ Is exploratory and spontaneous „ Occurs intermittently and by mutual agreement „ Occurs b/t children of similar age, size development, i.e., siblings,cousin, peers „ Is not associated with high levels of fear, anxiety or anger „ Decreases when caregivers tell them to stop „ Can be controlled by increased parental/ caregiver supervision

84 Problematic Sexual Behavior „ Is a frequent, repeated behavior, such as compulsive masturbation, i.e., masturbating in back of classroom „ Occurs between children who do not know each other well (Example: 8 year old girl shows genitals to new boy in bathroom

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department „ Occurs with frequency and interferes with normal childhood activities „ Is between children of different ages, size and developmental level

85 Problematic Sexual Behavior „ Is aggressive, forced or coerced with high levels of manipulation „ Does not decrease after child is told to stop „ Causes harm to themselves and others

86 Children with Sexual Behaviors „ Some children who have been sexually abused have inappropriate sexual behaviors; others have aggressive or problematic sexual behavior. However, it should be noted that the majority of children who have been sexually abused do not have subsequent inappropriate or aggressive sexual behaviors.

87 Improving Law Enforcement Skills to Improve Outcomes for Victims 9th National Strengthening Indian Nations Justice for Victims of Crime Conference December 11, 2004

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department Improving Law Enforcement Skills to Improve Outcomes for Victims Victimology Victim Selection

„ Why children? „ Vulnerable to predator 9th National Strengthening Indian Nations „ Are there discernable “at risk” „ Accessibility Justice for Victims of Crime Conference characteristics? „ Availability December 11, 2004 „ Are they the perfect victim? „ Covetous (see over and over) Detective Mike Johnson „ Undefendable prey Plano Police Department „ Fantasy P.O. Box 860358 Plano, Texas 75086-0358 „ Damaged goods 972.941.2130 972.390.9130 fax [email protected] www.detectivemike.com

Challenges Faced by the Factors that Govern how Children – The Ideal Victims Victimized Child Children React to Abuse

„ Naturally curious „ Embarrassment „ Developmental stage of child at time of abuse „ Easily led by adults „ Shame „ Duration of the abuse „ Need for affection and attention „ Fears of feeling responsible „ Support systems available to child „ Need to defy adults „ Fears of being blamed – Reaction by parents „ Children are poor witnesses „ Fear of being punished – Sensitivity of intervening agencies „ Sexual acts may be difficult to discern as „ Fear of exposure/labels „ Sophistication of the child criminal „ Fear of court process „ Environment within which the abuse occurred „ Fear that no one will believe them

Factors that Govern how Behavioral Indicators of the Behavioral Indicators of the Children React to Abuse Sexually Abused Child Sexually Abused Child

„ Relationship of offender to child „ Overly compliant “sexualized child” „ Inability to make friends/sudden change of „ Severity of the abuse „ Acting out aggressive behaviors friends „ Degree of physical force „ Hints at sexuality „ Lack of trust „ Persistent and inappropriate sexual play „ Degree of psychological duress „ Non-participation in school events –Peers „ Degree of participation by child „ Inability to concentrate in school –Toys „ Sex of child/sex of offender „ Extraordinary fears/phobias – Themselves „ Self destructive behavior – Others „ Sleep disturbances „ Detailed and age inappropriate sexual behavior

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department Behavioral Indicators of the Behavioral Indicators of the Family Dynamics of the Sexually Abused Child Sexually Abused Child Sexually Abused Child

„ Regressive behavior „ Anal behaviors „ Parentification (mother/daughter role „ Social and emotional withdrawal – Excessive hand washing reversal) „ Depression – Excessive bathing „ Over protectiveness of the child victim „ Suicidal feelings – Excessive concern over appearance „ Extreme paternal dominance „ Loss of appetite „ Sexual identity and gender role confusion „ Extreme maternal dominance „ Sudden change in mood „ Problem with self image „ Social isolation „ Bedwetting „ Manipulativeness „ Clinginess

Family Dynamics of the Stages Where Victimization Sexually Abused Child Other Characteristics Occurs

„ Exposure of victim to multiple male partners „ Has an unusual amounts of money, new toys, „ Object of perpetrator’s desire of mother clothes, or other possessions „ Sexual victimization „ Little or no supervision, controls, or limits for „ Spends more than the normal amount of time „ Internalization of victimization the child at recreation areas, theaters, and other „ Outcry „ Unstable family environment juvenile hangouts „ Parental/Familial response to outcry „ „ Spends an inordinate amount of time in the Zealous, fundamental religious philosophy „ Criminal/Civil intervention and forensic interview that stresses punishment for sexual company of the adult with whom they are „ Living with consequence expression and experimentation sexually active „ Testifying in court „ Criminal/Civil disclosure

Sensitivity towards children is a personal The Child Sexual Abuse The Child Sexual Abuse and professional acknowledgement that. . . Accommodation Syndrome Accommodation Syndrome

„ We must be open to the exceptional issues of case „ Roland C. Summitt, M.D. (Child Abuse & Neglect „ Is a model, not a clinical diagnosis Vol. 7, pgs. 177-193, 1983) –Secrecy „ An attempt to understand the ways in which „ Our tendency is to disbelieve/discount that which – Helplessness makes us uncomfortable children react to sexual abuse „ Five categories for typical reactions – Entrapment/accommodation „ This field of Child Abuse Investigation is unlike any „ Recognizes that most children are “groomed” – Delayed, conflicted and unconvincing other aspect of Law Enforcement within a familial situation disclosure „ Are chosen for being compliant and least likely to – Retraction „ Unlike lay people, where it is understandable that complain they disbelieve the prevalence of CA, we have direct „ Offender builds on child’s “trust”/need for access to case information that this does occur affection

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department Entrapment and Secrecy Helplessness Accommodation

Why don’t children tell? Why do children Children are inherently helpless and „ Chronic secrecy, helplessness cause the keep the secret? subordinate, dependent and immature child to feel trapped „ Threats – spoken, implied, child or loved one „ They lack the ability to escape „ Acceptance of the situation becomes a form „ Physically abused child afraid of continued „ Easy for powerful adults to overcome of survival abuse „ Attempts to protect themselves fail, victim „ Chronic SXAB children make sense of power „ Promises of safety for child and loved ones if believes (s)he is helpless and control or blame themselves for victim keeps secret „ Eventually victim stops trying to protect herself continuing abuse; this is affirmed by the perpetrator, i.e., “Daddy’s Little Girl” „ Children long for approval and affection, may „ Many in chronic situations begin to withdraw keep silent for fear of losing parents love and emotionally, psychologically „ PHAB children believe they deserve abuse approval because of bad behavior „ See PTSD, dissociative disorders definition

Entrapment and Delayed, Conflicted and Accommodation Unconvincing Disclosure Retraction

„ EMAB/neglected children find “I deserve it” „ Iceberg Effect „ Children who disclose may be flooded with guilt, fear, blame, betrayal, confusion systems of belief in themselves „ Adults who ask a victim about abuse PRIOR to child’s decision to tell must recognize the „ Adult responses are conflictual and frightening – „ PTSD/dissociative disorders are usually questions may create an acute emotional or foster care, arrest, multiple interviews, scorn of present psychological crisis for the child sibling(s), examinations (secondary victimization) „ Subsequent disclosures may be fraught with anxiety, retractions and inconsistencies, i.e., „ Children may gravitate back to abusive world (s)he knows (abusive anomaly) unconvincing „ Remember that defense mechanisms employed „ Remember: children may love their abuser, not to help the child cope may produce fragmented the abuse or repressed memory

Delayed Disclosures of Four Stages of Sexually Childhood Sexual Abuse The Sexualized Child Abused Children

„ Retrospective phone study „ Occurs when victim’s sexual feelings, „ Traumatic sexualization – 3220 respondents via random dialing method attitudes and behavior are shaped by a – N=288 developmentally inappropriate and „ Betrayal – Over age 18 interpersonally dysfunctional fashion as the „ Rape defined as vaginal, anal, penile or object result of sexual victimization penetration „ Powerlessness „ 28% never told anyone „ 47% had not disclosed for at least 5 years after „ Stigmatization the rape „ 25% disclosed abuse within a month

Finkelhor, Brown 1985 Smith, Letourneau, Sanders, Kilpatrick, Resnick, Best 2000 Delay in Disclosure of Childhood Rape: Results from a National Survey

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department Traumatic Sexualization: Traumatic Sexualization Traumatic Sexualization Behaviors and Outcomes

„ Child is sexually eroticized/objectified by „ Perpetrators fetishize and distort parts of „ Repetitive sexual preoccupation, compulsive sex offender child’s body, giving the body part more play meaning and significance „ Sexual interest inappropriate for age „ Child is “conditioned” for sexual behavior and subsequently rewarded with affection, „ Morally and developmentally confusing „ Sexual aggression attention and gifts for that behavior information – Over a long period of time (chronic), victim „ Promiscuity/older sexual partners may learn to manipulate others with this cycle „ Frightening experience, memories, events of sexual awareness become paired with sexual victimization „ Aversion to sexual activities

Finkelhor, Brown 1985 Finkelhor, Brown 1985 „ Sexual dysfunctions

Traumatic Sexualization: Traumatic Sexualization: Behaviors and Outcomes Behaviors and Outcomes Betrayal

„ For youth, boys fear that the victimization „ If the child’s memory of sexual contact during „ Refers to the dynamic by which children may cause them to become homosexuals; victimization was one of revulsion, fear, pain, discover that their perpetrator, whom they girls fear they are no longer virgins, or their anger or other negative emotions, this pairing were vitally dependent upon, has caused future sexual partners will be able to “tell” may effect later sexual experiences them harm, or the child believes the adult – This aversion may account for sexual knew the victimization was taking place but „ Sexual norm confusion occurs in future dysfunctions of victims did nothing to protect them relationships, i.e., victim “traded sex” for the attention of the abuser. Victim may view this as normal way to give and obtain affection

Finkelhor, Brown 1985

Betrayal Betrayal Betrayal

„ Trusted person (perpetrator) manipulated „ Family member, especially mother, who knew Higher Sense Lower Sense them with lies, promises and erosion of moral of victimization but was unwilling or unable to „ Trusted person „ Stranger standards protect the child „ Loving father who „ Immoral stepfather who offends at later age is sexually aggressive „ Victim learns that person (perpetrator) they „ Family members whose attitude towards the „ Natural siblings’ „ Stepbrother support of trusted has actually treated them with callous victim has significantly changed (post rejection perpetrator disregard disclosure)

Children who are disbelieved, blamed or ostracized undoubtedly experience a greater sense of betrayal than Finkelhor, Brown 1985 Finkelhor, Brown 1985 those who are supported throughout the disclosure process

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department Betrayal: Betrayal: Betrayal: Behaviors and Outcomes Behaviors and Outcomes Behaviors and Outcomes

„ Severe levels of grief and depression „ Female victims of incest have a markedly „ For adult male victims, future relationships emanate from victim’s abuse by a trusted high vulnerability to relationships which are are affected by anger, hostility and loved one physically, psychologically and sexually aggressive behavior. These behaviors are abusive. In extreme circumstances, they fail recognized as the victim’s way of protecting „ Victim’s need to reestablish trust and security to recognize obvious red flags when these themselves from future betrayals may manifest itself in clinginess and partners become sexually abusive toward dependent behavior in the very young victim; their children „ Externalization in adults, impaired judgment (broken radar) and issues of over dependency „ Internalization

Powerlessness: Powerlessness: Powerlessness Behaviors and Outcomes Behaviors and Outcomes

„ The process in which the child victim’s will, „ Fear/anxiety and disorders related to them; „ Another reaction to powerlessness, some desires and sense of efficacy are continually these fears and disorders can extend into sexual abuse victims (especially male victims) contravened. The child’s sense of self, body adulthood may have a dysfunctional need to control or space, territory or boundary are repeatedly – Nightmares, phobias, somatic complaints violated against the child’s will dominate (power) „ Effect on efficacy and coping skills, fear of – Appear to be tough, aggressive, fearsome, to „ It is reinforced when children’s attempt to halt being revictimized, innate fear of the inability retain the power they lost to the offender; the or disclose the abuse fails to protect oneself and fear of ineffectiveness victim recognizes with the offender, thus in life, relationships, school, work, etc. becomes the offender „ It increases when children feel fear and a circumstantial entrapment in the abusive „ High risk of revictimization – looking/acting situation like a victim; attracts predators

Stigmatization: Stigmatization Stigmatization Behaviors and Outcomes

„ Victim’s personal feelings of badness, shame, „ Pressure of mutual secrecy „ Feelings of aloneness, isolation, gravitation to guilt are communicated to the victim through deviate subcultures, including prostitution circumstances and experiences that become „ Messages from family, friends, society, media „ Drug/alcohol abuse, criminal activity incorporated into the child’s self image that says sexual abuse victims have loose morals, are damaged goods, etc. „ Self-destructive behavior, including suicide „ From the abuser who may blame victim for activity, demean the victim or furtively convey „ Guilt/shame/low self esteem reinforced by a sense of shame about the sexually abusive societies perception of the victim as spoiled behavior merchandise, etc.

„ Intense fears of rejection and oddness

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department Defense Mechanisms Recantation Recantation Risk Factors

„ Repression „ Identification „ Does not mean all is lost „ Abuse is by a family member or friend of family „ Suppression „ Displacement „ Threats „ Denial „ Sublimation „ Does not mean it did not happen „ Reaction Formation „ Isolation „ Hostility to disclosure by family members „ Does mean other factors are at play „ Rationalization „ Regression „ Lack of support by family members „ Projection „ Conversion „ Does mean there is more work to be done „ Expressed support for offender by family, church, community

„ Denial by offender

Sensitivity Tips for Law Recantation Risk Factors Recantation Risk Factors Enforcement Officers

„ Continued contact of offender „ Women who were abused are two-times as Recognize that talking to children is different likely to abuse their children from talking to adults „ Failure of intervening agencies to address other family violence, neglect, abuse in home „ Lack of/usage of protective orders „ No Q & A „ Repeated questioning of victim „ System delays „ “Think” engaging in an age-appropriate „ Lack of coordination of investigative/support conversation agencies „ Child placement after disclosure „ Must find a way to relate at the child, preteen, „ Failure of investigator to acknowledge that teen level children of survivors are more than two-times „ No vertical prosecution more likely to be abused

Sensitivity Tips for Law Sensitivity Tips for Law Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers Enforcement Officers Enforcement Officers

Do not prejudge what the child is going to say You cannot be judgmental Investigative issues surrounding adult (teen) sexual assault have no application and should „ Do not assume what a word means; clarify „ Victim who is a runaway, party girl, or who lives everything within a criminal culture environment not be a consideration with child sexual abuse – “He did sex to me.” What is sex? „ 12-16 years of age „ “She’s a little slut; she deserved it” „ Issues of incest „ May miss details (she may never repeat) „ Drug and alcohol abuser, mini skirts, tattoos, „ Consent „ Adult used to taking the lead piercings, sexualized behavior, town tramp, cross „ Outcry validity tracks „ Cognitive manipulation „ Officers tend to be impatient, coach, anticipate, what child is going to say (tired of listening) „ “Which came first?” „ Alcohol or other usage

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department Sensitivity Tips for Law Sensitivity Tips for Law Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers Enforcement Officers Enforcement Officers

Victim may love or be dependent on perpetrator Create an environment within which the child Be cognizant of your language and phraseology is comfortable „ Avoid statements implying blame; avoid the „ Serves no purpose for officer to indicate your „ Remove barriers “What did you do?” opinion – ever „ Never at a desk „ Remember that the child has no responsibility „ Overhearing other officers/witnesses in what occurred and be sure questions reflect this „ Remember: the very definition of incest is severe „ Address the victim’s “FEARS” – Example: “Did you put your mouth on his dysfunctionality, where children are victims of penis?” “No. He made me put his penis in my adult behavior mouth.”

Sensitivity Tips for Law Sensitivity Tips for Law Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers Enforcement Officers Enforcement Officers

Know when to initiate or stop questioning When speaking. . . When speaking with children, do acknowledge their emotions but do not „ Child may be „ Soften your tone, volume, pitch interpret their emotions –Overwhelmed –Fatigued „ Ask one question at a time I see your crying That was terrible vs How does it feel That must’ve really hurt „ The younger the child the shorter their „ Be comfortable with silence; allow the child attention span time to process

Sensitivity Tips for Law Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement Officers Enforcement Officers Insensitivity is Fostered by

Be honest with yourself Lastly. . . „ Ignorance

„ If you are not the type of officer who can „ Don’t forget to call CPS „ Complacency handle listening to a five-year old talk about her father ejaculating in her face, then don’t put yourself in that position „ Laziness

„ Children can read your emotions and will „ Fear react to you „ Past

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department Dissociation Dissociation Dissociation

Psycho (physiological) process in which there is a Children are most susceptible to dissociation separation of emotions, feeling and sensations Disengagement of feelings, sensations, from a trauma/victimization „ Small in size, vulnerable behaviors, cognitive knowledge during abuse incidents „ Is a universal survival response „ Dependent

„ When an abusive incident (sexual, physical, „ Developmentally, need for nurturance witness DV) occurs and is more than a child’s mind can tolerate, he/she must ESCAPE „ Ill equipped to integrate traumatic/abusive experiences „ Human (psychological instinct) to survive “kicks in” „ Many are left with no alternative except to dissociate

Dissociation Dissociation Dissociation

Dissociation may be used as a defense during More severe forms (on a continuum) of dissociation „ Occurs on a continuum ranging from normal experiences to extreme Multiple Personality trauma or during an experience that is not in a are seen with the following experiences normal range for a given developmental stage of Disorder „ Multiple abusers life. Dissociation becomes problematic „ Examples of “Normal” dissociation (dysfunctional) when „ Violent or sadistic – Highway hypnosis – Engrossed in television (movie) „ It becomes a primary defense rather than an emergency measure „ Onset of abuse at an early age – Daydreaming

„ Individual (victim) cannot reestablish control „ Chronic/abuse over extended period of time „ Duration is brief, individual realizes the dissociation occurred, and quickly reestablishes control „ Victim has no awareness of dissociation „ Perpetrator is a known loved one who otherwise has a nurturing role

Behaviors Associated with Behaviors Associated with Behaviors Associated with Dissociation Dissociation Dissociation

„ Impulsive/compulsive/self abusive behaviors „ Inability to remember recent events „ Behavioral manifestations – Loss of time – Spending –Staring – Stealing „ Panic attacks – Rocking (repetitive movement) – Self-mutilation – Rigidity in body „ Anxiety – Substance abuse – Unresponsiveness – Exercising „ Phobias – Flat affect while reciting or thinking of abuse – Cleaning – Seizure-like behavior – Accident proneness „ History of disorganized behavior – Regressive behaviors – Inability to complete – Promiscuity – Easily distracted ™Voice, posture, habits – Forgetfulness

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department Verbal Cues to Past Physical or Medical Physical or Medical Dissociation Indicators of Sexual Abuse Indicators of Sexual Abuse

„ I left my body and went to the ceiling „ Hymenal disruption, presenting as scars, „ Chronic irritation about the genitals „ I don’t know what happened to me or my brother tears, or abrasions „ Pregnancy „ I saw it happen to this other little boy „ Injuries of the posterior forchette in girls (area „ Presence of semen in vagina, rectum, mouth, „ I knew it was happening but I thought about between the vagina and the anus) or on other parts of the body something else „ Significant anal relaxation or the presence of „ I remember him walking in the door, and the next large anal scars thing I remember is him walking out „ Presence of sexually transmitted diseases „ He came over to the bed, turned out the light. . . and such things as genital warts and I went out to play (intra-interview amnesia)

Normal Child Development Normal Child Development Normal Child Development Age 0-2 Age 2-6 Age 2-6

„ Body exploration „ Gender difference awareness „ Self exploration/discovery for self stimulation „ Physiological/Reflexive reactions (erections, „ Curiosity expressed via looking and touching evident vaginal lubrication) „ Awareness of difference between adults and „ If not educated, primitive theories of where „ Sensuality begins to develop via nurturing children babies come from touch, e.g., nursing, hugging, face to face „ Curiosity expressed via questions, e.g., why „ Little modesty exhibited cooing is daddy’s penis bigger than mine „ Gender identity established „ Poop and pee talk „

Normal Child Development Normal Child Development Normal Child Development Age 6-11 Age 6-11 Age 11-18

„ Non-exploitative sexual contact with others „ Sexual play more secretive „ Pubescent changes continue „ Heterosexual interest increases „ Sexual language (slang) used with little „ Masturbation continues possibly with shame „ Masturbation in private understanding of actual meaning, e.g., „ Sexual talk common faggot, pervert „ Increasing interest sexually explicit materials „ Adult-like sexual experimentation „ Early puberty menarche, wet dreams „ Awareness that SEX is taboo „ Homosexual experimentation is seen „ Development of secondary characteristics „ Increasing modesty „ Sexual harassment by others may occur „ Sex role identity established

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department Normal Sexual Play Problematic Sexual Behavior

„ Is exploratory and spontaneous „ Is a frequent, repeated behavior, such as Normal Sexual Play „ Occurs intermittently and by mutual compulsive masturbation, i.e., masturbating vs. agreement in back of classroom Problematic Sexual Behavior „ Occurs b/t children of similar age, size „ Occurs between children who do not know development, i.e., siblings,cousin, peers each other well (Example: 8 year old girl shows genitals to new boy in bathroom „ Is not associated with high levels of fear, anxiety or anger „ Occurs with frequency and interferes with normal childhood activities „ Decreases when caregivers tell them to stop „ Is between children of different ages, size „ Can be controlled by increased parental/ caregiver supervision and developmental level

Children with Sexual Improving Law Enforcement Skills Problematic Sexual Behavior Behaviors to Improve Outcomes for Victims

„ Is aggressive, forced or coerced with high „ Some children who have been sexually th levels of manipulation abused have inappropriate sexual behaviors; 9 National Strengthening Indian Nations Justice for Victims of Crime Conference „ Does not decrease after child is told to stop others have aggressive or problematic sexual behavior. However, it should be noted that „ Causes harm to themselves and others December 11, 2004 the majority of children who have been sexually abused do not have subsequent Detective Mike Johnson inappropriate or aggressive sexual behaviors. Plano Police Department P.O. Box 860358 Plano, Texas 75086-0358 972.941.2130 972.390.9130 fax [email protected] www.detectivemike.com

Detective Mike Johnson Plano Police Department