C10

WHAT'S BEHIND DOOR #3? EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESES IN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS

Presenters: Susan Samuel, James Starks

Abstract Category: Investigations 

Instruction Level: Beginner

Presentation: Not Submitted

Description:

Avoid defense's first challenge - consider, eliminate and document alternative explanations for the stated allegations.

Abstract:

In child sexual abuse cases, one of the more common challenges raised by defense is the investigator’s failure to consider, eliminate and document alternative explanations for the stated allegations. Defense nearly always raises the issue of unexplored alternative explanations for the allegations of sexual abuse. Investigators  are often accused of “decision-making by personal bias”.  While this accusation may be true in a very small number of cases, most investigators “informally” explore at least a few other possibilities. This workshop introduces a systematic process for exploring all possible alternatives and for considering these possibilities until the evidence allows the investigator to rule them out. Using “doors” as a metaphor for the alternatives, this workshop will examine two real cases and will call upon participants to formulate, eliminate and then document all possible alternatives for the allegations.