Child Abuse, Child Exploitation, and Criminal Justice Responses

There are few things is our society that provoke such raw emotions as that of child abuse. Most people, justifiably so, are outraged when they hear of allegations of abuse, and their anger is intensified as they learn of what seems to be an inappropriate criminal justice response. However, the debate on child abuse usually happens though visceral emotions rather than facts. Taking emotions out of a child abuse debate is much easier said than done, but it is of utmost importance to identify the facts. When the reader has a better understanding of the scope of child abuse, they can become more objective but still maintain their passion about ways to protect this vulnerable and targeted population. Child Abuse, Child Exploitation, and Criminal Justice Responses is unique in that it offers the reader contributing facts based not only through scholarly research, but practical experience working in field, from this wonderful collaboration of criminal investigator and forensic nurse. Thus providing much personal insight and demonstrating how these two areas of expertise can join forces to achieve the objective of working as a team to facilitate safeguarding children. The authors also presents the research on this complex yet worthy topic by identifying the unique challenges of investigating these offenses while ultimately bringing the perpetrators to justice, and presenting the research from various perspectives of child abuse including both national and international issues and responses.