NCJ Number
129324
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (1991) Pages: 163-170
Date Published
1991
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Child sexual abuse associated with satanism or ritualism are at the extreme end of the spectrum of this type of abuse; professionals need to learn from previous investigative cases and to examine issues of credibility, practice, and policy.
Abstract
Child sexual abuse within the context of ritualism is characterized by a powerful and deviant belief system, premeditated and sadistic activities that lead to severe psychological damage, and extreme degradation of the victim. Disclosures of this kind of allegation have caught police and social services unaware, dividing professionals into two camps of believers and unbelievers. Obstacles in investigating ritualistic sexual abuse cases have exacerbated the disbelief. When assessing the credibility of an account of ritualistic child sexual abuse, crime scene verification and witness accounts must be considered as well as factors which may exaggerate or invent some of the alleged activities. In clinical terms, professionals must approach these cases with extreme care and objectivity. A team of trained consultants should be brought into the investigation of multiple abuse cases and a national database of multiple abuse case characteristics developed. Finally, further research into the phenomena of child sexual abuse, satanism, and multiple abuse cases is needed. 14 references