Abstract
This paper examines the subject of judicial discretion, specifically as it was applied by the United States Supreme Court in "Tome v. United States, 513 U.S. 150 (1995)". In that case, a majority of the court ruled that reports of prior consistent statements made by the victim of sexual assault were inadmissible unless they occurred prior to any incident drawing the victim's credibility into question. The paper contends that the dissent in Tome presented a more reasonable position, giving the trial judge more discretion in admitting evidence of this sort. To conclude, the paper notes that the states have not invariably followed Tome.

From the Paper
"In Tome v. United States, 513 U.S. 150 (1995), the Supreme Court considered a case which turned on an issue of judicial discretion. Matthew Tome was charged and convicted of felony sexual abuse of a child, his daughter who was four years old when the abuse occurred. Tome had primary custody of the child, A.T., during the 1989-90 school year; Tome's wife had custody during the summer of 1990. In August, the mother contacted police, alleging that A.T. had been sexually abused. The prosecution alleged that A.T. had been abused during the school year; the defense contended that the story was concocted to prevent Tome from retaining custody. (The matter was tried in federal rather than state court because the abuse allegedly occurred on a Navajo reservation.) (513 U.S. at 152)."

Tags:law, court, minor, child, testimony, reliability, credibility

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses media treatment of the sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church. The writer focuses on actions of former Boston priest John Geoghan, who church authorities moved from one diocese to another rather than address the problem.

From the Paper
"... Louisiana reporter Jason Berry began reporting extensively on the widespread problem of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and on the cover-up undertaken by the Church hierarchy. Carol Cannon describing the work done by Barry herself and Karen Henderson pointed out that media attention regarding this issue was intense but it began to literally disappear when revelations regarding the sexual abuse history of a Catholic priest in Boston named John J Geoghan ..."

Tags:Roman Catholic Church, John Geoghan, Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law, media, sexual abuse, diocese

Abstract
This paper discusses how, even though it is believed that some cases of sexual abuse are true and actually took place, others may have just been implanted in the minds of the traumatized victims by their psychiatrist or psychotherapist. It explains how opponents of this view maintain that recovered memories are actually accurate because it is impossible for the medical practitioner to implant false memories. The paper studies both views closely to reach an objective conclusion.

From the Paper
"When a woman comes forth with delayed memories of sexual abuse, her credibility is usually at stake since people doubt delayed recovery of some traumatic experience. The proponents of "false memory syndrome" maintain that children who have been sexually abuses cannot forget such a traumatic experience and therefore those who come up with delayed memories are victims of FMS (Lego, 1996). FMS or false memory syndrome refers to the case whereby a medical practitioner usually a psychiatrist or psychologist is accused of implanting false memories in the minds of their patients (Kardiner, 1941). This group maintains that memories are very delicate and sensitive to impression and any influence can alter their original form. Contamination of memory occurs when a patient with signs of trauma visits a psychiatrist and during the treatment, the patient is subjected to memory recovery procedures, which can lead to recovery of some kind of trauma that never existed. It is believed this happens because of suggestions made by the psychiatrist during the memory recovery procedure. This is the viewpoint of skeptics who "argue that the notion of repression is purely hypothetical and essentially untestable, based as it is on unsubstantiated speculation and anecdotes that are impossible to confirm or deny."

Tags:psychiatrist, rape, horror, dream

Abstract
The paper states that the topic of recovered memories and false memories with respect to childhood sexual abuse is closely connected to memory issues of amnesia and delayed recall. The paper comments that although it is impossible to determine exactly how common amnesia and delayed recall are in cases of child sexual abuse, research does indicate that both phenomena occur with respect to child sexual abuse. The paper suggests that one explanation for why it does not occur, may be related to the types of abuse experience, in that repeated abuse may be more likely to cause amnesia or delayed recall.

Outline:
Introduction
Research concerning child sexual abuse and amnesia
Disagreement of the literature
Amnesia
Delayed Recall
Prevalence
- problems with determining prevalence
Suggested Explanations
- Type of Trauma
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The literature is also somewhat convoluted on the subject, as some researchers find traumatic events are encoded in more detail than non traumatic events, while others find that traumatic events are forgotten altogether. Such is the case when amnesia occurs. Amnesia refers to a loss of memory, most often of declarative memory as opposed to procedural memory (how to tie your shoe laces) (Colman, 2003). Although vivid intrusions of traumatic images and sensations are some of the most dramatic expressions of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a disorder commonly associated with childhood sexual abuse, the loss of recollections for traumatic experiences is also well documented. Research suggests that for some victims of trauma, having no recall of the abuse is based on more than just ordinary forgetting associated with the passage of time, their young age at the time of trauma, or lack of salience of the traumatic event"

Tags:trauma, child, brutalization, sexual, abuse, memories

Abstract
This paper looks at the increased reports of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. The writer points out that only recently has the Church needed to answer for itself and take a stand due to the high level of reported cases. An examination of the Church's response is given which follows criticism of their reaction.

From the Paper
"The Catholic Church has been rocked recently by allegations of sexual abuses especially against children. The problem is not isolated but all pervading. The cases of child, sexual abuses are about the same percentage as the general population. Most of the cases are not, in the strictest sense pedophilic sex with pre-pubescent children, but ephebophilia abuse of adolescent children. In a comprehensive study of 2,252 priests for 30 years, only one case of pedophilia was found. It involved a priest with two six year-old nieces. Between 5 and 10 percent of priests were pederasts (ephebophiles). (Jenkins, 1996)"

Tags:priest, child, sexual, abuse, church, catholic, christianity

Abstract
This paper defines childhood sexual abuse, delves into its psychological frameworks and discusses how childhood sexual abuse can affect development. It examines several factors that have skewed the social view of child sexual abuse including the focus on gender, retrospective accounts of child sexual abuse and a lack of focus on child sexual abuse education and prevention. The paper asserts that society's misconceptions must be addressed before progress child sexual abuse can be effectively treated and prevented.

From the Paper
"Childhood sexual trauma and sexual violence cuts across all lines of gender, national origin, language, religion, age, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation. In fact, according to the latest U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) 2000 Child Abuse and Neglect National Statistics Study that is conducted through the Administration for Children and Families National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) there has been a small one-year increase in confirmed reports of child maltreatment."

Tags:Childhood Sexual Abuse, Sexual Trauma, Development

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that as the most under-reported form of child maltreatment, sexual abuse is an ever-increasing problem. The writer points out that child sexual abuse is not limited to any one geographical area, culture, or society; in fact, it is a global pandemic with children of all races and nationalities at risk for abuse. The writer maintains that every researcher mentioned in this paper would quickly agree that child sexual abuse is a very real and terrible social problem with many negative consequences, and that education appears to be the key factor when it comes to preventing child sexual abuse. The paper's research and studies all reveal that child sexual abuse occurs more frequently than one would assume and that it often goes under-reported, if reported at all. The writer concludes that, unfortunately, there is no clear-cut method for eliminating child sexual abuse, except perhaps through greatly altering the attitudes and motives of those individuals responsible for the abuse.

From the Paper
"Child sexual abuse is perhaps the most deplorable type of abuse, and as the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry explains, child sexual abuse can occur ''within a family, by a parent, a step-parent, a sibling or some other relative (''Child Sexual Abuse,'' 2008, Internet). In addition, abuse can occur outside of the family and often involves a neighbor, a friend, a childcare individual, a teacher, or even a stranger (''Child Sexual Abuse,'' 2008, Internet), and once sexually abused, a child often develops a range of thoughts, distressing feelings, and behaviors (''Child Sexual Abuse,'' 2008, Internet) which can affect the child for the remainder of his/her lifetime.
"As the most under-reported form of child maltreatment, sexual abuse is an ever-increasing problem. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, only 1% to 10% of child sexual abuse incidences are ever reported, and in a study conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services (1986 to 1993), cases of child sexual abuse and neglect almost doubled, with numbers ranging between 1.4 million and 2.8 million cases (''Darkness to Light,'' 2008, Internet)."

Tags:child, sexual, abuse, social, workers, healthcare

Abstract
This paper examines the psychological motivations behind child sexual abuse, the impact it has on the victim, and how to educate families and prevent children from being abused. The paper also discusses methods for the victims and their families to recover from abuse.

Table of Contents:

A Defining Introduction to Abuse
The Effects of Abuse
The Development of Protection
The Themes Relevant to Child Abuse Policy
The Lack of Attention to Child Abuse
Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse
Conclusive Recovery from Child Sexual Abuse
Works Cited

From the Paper
"The problem of child sexual abuse is entirely unacceptable in nature, and has lasting effects for both the victim and abuser. There are varying degrees of abuse, with three primary perspectives; those of social, medical, and psychological; through which the view the problem. Those who are abused oftentimes suffer extremely after the fact, developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Children however are innocent and incapable in most situations at defending themselves from adults who would seek to abuse them. Thus prevention is essential, a number of potential measures being explored below."

Tags:children, sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress, psychology, victims, ephebophilia

Abstract
This paper takes a look at sexual abuse. According to the paper, studies have suggested that one in three girls in the United States will experience some form of sexual abuse by the age of eighteen. The paper discusses how the aftermath of childhood sexual abuse can lead to mental illness, binge eating disorders and substance abuse.

From the Paper
"Another self-harm behavior also frequently found in adult survivors of CSA is substance abuse. Often survivors will turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to escape the emotional pain or trauma associated with the abuse they suffered as a child. The survivor looks at their substance use as a way to control their feelings over the abuse. They feel an actual sense of control over the situation. In all actuality, as seen with self-mutilation, it is only a false sense of empowerment felt and is actually another form of revictimization (Slater et al., 2003)."
"Once involved with drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism, life for a survivor can quickly spin out of control. Becoming dependent on alcohol or drugs is dangerous for anyone, but for victims of CSA the risk is even greater due to the false sense of empowerment that they gain. By engulfing themselves in substance abuse, they can create a fantasy world of safety, security, and control in their life (Slater et al., 2003)."

Tags:survivor, PTSD, sexual, abuse, anxiety, drugs, offenders, victim, irritability

Abstract
This paper discusses the incidence, prevalence and effects of child sexual abuse, including statistical data on child victimization rates. The paper focuses on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as an effect of sexual abuse. The paper presents a number of cognitive-behavioral social work interventions and treatment for sexually abused adolescents suffering from PTSD. The paper concludes with a comparison between the benefits of individualized versus group therapy.

Tags:child abuse, sexual abuse, cogntive behavioral therapy, PTSD