Investigations by Agency, District Attorney, Police, Divorce Counsel

*Investigations*



Physical examination of child Check the cases in your state. If the child has not been brought for an examination, you may have a fight on your hands. Laboratory tests for possibility of transmission of sexual disease Investigation by administrative agency Investigation conducted by social worker: usually female Reads 51 report of abuse: form Interviews child Interviews one or both parents Phones mandatory reporter Possible contacts Medical doctor Rape counselor Supervisor of visitation (if started) Therapist for child Quasi-agencies providing site and supervisor for visitation Writes investigative 51B report: form Investigation by divorce counsel of "innocent spouse" Phones everyone according to counsel's need Gets full cooperation Investigation by accused's divorce counsel Interviews or deposes adversarial witnesses Deposes fresh complaint witness Deposes mandatory reporter (depending on who it is availability will behard-fought) Deposes police officer(s) Deposes mother (assumed innocent spouse) Deposes social workers: Supervisor of visitations Child's therapist Mother's therapist (more than likely not available despite statute to thecontrary) Author of oral or written 51A report Intake person (if necessary) of 51A report Author of 51B report Deposes other witnesses, if any, or statements of witnesses Deposes expert witnesses, if any Subpoenas keepers of medical records, hospital records, etc. and deposes keepers or medical personnel depending on facts of case Deposes doctor, if appropriate Subpoenas file, including process notes, of social workers (workers must keep process notes if licensed) Investigation by divorce counsel of friendly witnesses Causes examination of accused Polygraph test Psychological--personality and sexual arousal--tests Conducts interviews Reputation witnesses -- in the community witnesses Reputation witnesses -- in the business community Other witnesses, if any, such as grandparents, friends Contact with guardian ad litem Contact with child's attorney, if any and if willing Investigation by police Police tries to interview accused without counsel Police interviews child and custodial parent Depending on facts of case, police interviews other potential witnesses, particularly social workers Investigation by district attorney's office Reviews paperwork in case Instructs social workers dealing with child, custodial parent, and noncustodial parent (the accused) Interviews child, custodial parent, other prosecutorial witnesses, as well as all social workers whether or not they are going to be trial witnesses