The legal system is responsible for the prosecution of an accused of sexual abuse of a child. The prosecution process is a complicated and an adult-orientated area. In South Africa sexual abuse of children is noticeably high. The sexual abuse of a child is traumatic and an intimidating experience for the child. The child is usually the only/main witness in a sexual abuse case. The child's testimony is the main aspect in the guilty ruling of an accused. Courts must apply special measures for child witnesses to testify optimally in court. Special measures include a court preparation process of the child witness. This study investigated the experience of the child witness of the court preparation process of Blue Downs court. The current programme was also described, and discussed in terms of current best practice programmes as described in literature. This study was based on a case study. The sexually abused child witness, the child's parent, the court preparation officer as well as the senior state prosecutor were interviewed. The most important findings of the study were that the court preparations process of Blue Downs court is successful and appropriated structured. The parent as well as the child experienced the programme as positive, and their anxiety levels were hereby lowered. A few training needs for court preparation officers, were identified. Court preparation processes need ongoing evaluation, to perform at its best and to be successfu1. Adjustments, such as more intensive training of the court preparation officers, are necessary to improve the process. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

* OPSOMMING: Die doelstelling van die navorsing was om die reaksies van die moeder van die seksueel misbruikte kind na bekendmaking van die oortreding te bepaal en hoedat die forensiese maatskaplike werker die moeder tydens die forensiese proses behulpsaam kan wees. Doelwit 1: Om vas te stel wat die emosionele reaksies van die moeders was nadat seksuele misbruik van hul kinders bekend gemaak is. Doelwit 2: Om vas te stel in watter mate die forensiese maatskaplike werker inligting aan die moeder verstrek het rakende die wetlike en forensiese prosesse asook moontlike implikasies rakende bepaalde besluitneming. Doelwit 3: Om vas te stel hoe die forensiese maatskaplike werker die moeder tydens die forensiese proses behulpsaam kan wees. Ten opsigte van doelwit een (1) is 'n gestandaardiseerde meetinstrument (PMSI) benut ten einde die moeder se emosionele reaksies te bepaal. Daar is bevind dat die moeder van die seksueel misbruikte kind na bekendmaking daarvan, binne 'n emosionele konteks, met simptome van trauma presenteer. Doelwit twee (2) is met behulp van 'n selfontwerpte vraelys ondersoek, aan die hand waarvan bevind is dat die meerderheid moeders voldoende inligting met betrekking tot die wetlike en forensiese prosesse van die forensiese maatskaplike werker ontvang het. Enkele van die moeders het egter beleef dat hulle nie op aile vlakke toepaslik ingelig was rakende die wetlike en forensiese proses nie. Ten aansien van doelwit drie (3) is dieselfde selfontwerpte vraelys benut as die in doelwit twee (2) genoem. Daar is bevind dat die forensiese maatskaplike werker toepaslike inligting aan die moeder moet verstrek en dat sy haar na bevoegde kundiges wat oor spesifieke terapeutiese kennis en vaardighede beskik, moet verwys. Hierdie bevindinge is vervat in die aanbevelings wat in die studie gedoen is, wat fokus op die forensiese maatskaplike werker se rol en taak met betrekking tot die moeder van die seksueel misbruikte kind. / • SUMMARY: The purpose of the research was to determine the emotional reactions of the mother of the sexually abused child after disclosure and how the forensic social worker can assist the mother in the forensic process. Objective 1: To determine what the emotional reactions of the mothers of their sexually abused children were after disclosure of sexual abuse. Objective 2: To ascertain to what extent the forensic social worker furnished the mother with information regarding the legal and forensic process as well as possible implications concerning certain decision making. Objective 3: How the forensic social worker can assist the mother in the forensic process. A standardised measuring instrument (PMSI) was utilised in obtaining information with regard to objective one (1). The findings indicate that the mother of the sexually abused child presents with symptoms of trauma after disclosure of sexual abuse. A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate objective two (2). The findings indicated that the majority of mothers received sufficient information from the forensic social worker regarding the legal and forensic process. The same self-designed questionnaire was utilised for objectives two (2) and three (3). Objective three (3) focused on how the forensic social worker could assist the mother in the forensic process. The findings indicated that the forensic social worker should furnish the mother with specific information, especially by referring the mother to competent therapists with specific therapeutic knowledge and skills. These findings were included in the recommendation made in this study that focussed on the forensic social worker's role and task with regard to the mother of the sexually abused child. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The legal system is responsible for the prosecution of an accused of sexual abuse of a child. The prosecution process is a complicated and an adult-orientated area. In South Africa sexual abuse of children is noticeably high. The sexual abuse of a child is traumatic and an intimidating experience for the child. The child is usually the only/main witness in a sexual abuse case. The child's testimony is the main aspect in the guilty ruling of an accused. Courts must apply special measures for child witnesses to testify optimally in court. Special measures include a court preparation process of the child witness. This study investigated the experience of the child witness of the court preparation process of Blue Downs court. The current programme was also described, and discussed in terms of current best practice programmes as described in literature. This study was based on a case study. The sexually abused child witness, the child's parent, the court preparation officer as well as the senior state prosecutor were interviewed. The most important findings of the study were that the court preparations process of Blue Downs court is successful and appropriated structured. The parent as well as the child experienced the programme as positive, and their anxiety levels were hereby lowered. A few training needs for court preparation officers, were identified. Court preparation processes need ongoing evaluation, to perform at its best and to be successfu1. Adjustments, such as more intensive training of the court preparation officers, are necessary to improve the process. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

* OPSOMMING: Die doelstelling van die navorsing was om die reaksies van die moeder van die seksueel misbruikte kind na bekendmaking van die oortreding te bepaal en hoedat die forensiese maatskaplike werker die moeder tydens die forensiese proses behulpsaam kan wees. Doelwit 1: Om vas te stel wat die emosionele reaksies van die moeders was nadat seksuele misbruik van hul kinders bekend gemaak is. Doelwit 2: Om vas te stel in watter mate die forensiese maatskaplike werker inligting aan die moeder verstrek het rakende die wetlike en forensiese prosesse asook moontlike implikasies rakende bepaalde besluitneming. Doelwit 3: Om vas te stel hoe die forensiese maatskaplike werker die moeder tydens die forensiese proses behulpsaam kan wees. Ten opsigte van doelwit een (1) is 'n gestandaardiseerde meetinstrument (PMSI) benut ten einde die moeder se emosionele reaksies te bepaal. Daar is bevind dat die moeder van die seksueel misbruikte kind na bekendmaking daarvan, binne 'n emosionele konteks, met simptome van trauma presenteer. Doelwit twee (2) is met behulp van 'n selfontwerpte vraelys ondersoek, aan die hand waarvan bevind is dat die meerderheid moeders voldoende inligting met betrekking tot die wetlike en forensiese prosesse van die forensiese maatskaplike werker ontvang het. Enkele van die moeders het egter beleef dat hulle nie op aile vlakke toepaslik ingelig was rakende die wetlike en forensiese proses nie. Ten aansien van doelwit drie (3) is dieselfde selfontwerpte vraelys benut as die in doelwit twee (2) genoem. Daar is bevind dat die forensiese maatskaplike werker toepaslike inligting aan die moeder moet verstrek en dat sy haar na bevoegde kundiges wat oor spesifieke terapeutiese kennis en vaardighede beskik, moet verwys. Hierdie bevindinge is vervat in die aanbevelings wat in die studie gedoen is, wat fokus op die forensiese maatskaplike werker se rol en taak met betrekking tot die moeder van die seksueel misbruikte kind. / • SUMMARY: The purpose of the research was to determine the emotional reactions of the mother of the sexually abused child after disclosure and how the forensic social worker can assist the mother in the forensic process. Objective 1: To determine what the emotional reactions of the mothers of their sexually abused children were after disclosure of sexual abuse. Objective 2: To ascertain to what extent the forensic social worker furnished the mother with information regarding the legal and forensic process as well as possible implications concerning certain decision making. Objective 3: How the forensic social worker can assist the mother in the forensic process. A standardised measuring instrument (PMSI) was utilised in obtaining information with regard to objective one (1). The findings indicate that the mother of the sexually abused child presents with symptoms of trauma after disclosure of sexual abuse. A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate objective two (2). The findings indicated that the majority of mothers received sufficient information from the forensic social worker regarding the legal and forensic process. The same self-designed questionnaire was utilised for objectives two (2) and three (3). Objective three (3) focused on how the forensic social worker could assist the mother in the forensic process. The findings indicated that the forensic social worker should furnish the mother with specific information, especially by referring the mother to competent therapists with specific therapeutic knowledge and skills. These findings were included in the recommendation made in this study that focussed on the forensic social worker's role and task with regard to the mother of the sexually abused child. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Currently no guidelines exist for South African professionals that work with sexually abused children. Professionals in this field are in desperate need of such guidelines. Section A refers to the problem statement, research objectives, research procedures and research methodology. The keywords as well as the limitations of the research are investigated. The research was conducted in two phases. In phase one the researcher compared international forensic assessment models and protocols and compared it with what is relevant in South Africa and in phase two the development, implementation, and evaluation of the forensic assessment model took place. The problem statement in section A is based on the following: Currently no guidelines exist for professionals in South Africa that work with children that have been sexually abused. There is a misconception, even among social workers, that all social workers are equipped to work with sexually abused children. Often the child and the offender are the only witnesses to the crime and therefore it is crucial that the investigation must be conducted effectively. If untrained professionals conduct such an investigation it can lead to a child that is at risk of being sexually abused not being protected because it seems that no abuse had taken place, or it can lead to an innocent person being wrongfully accused of sexual abuse. It is important for professionals to use scientific and legally defensible models and protocols when conducting forensic investigation. As previously mentioned, no such guidelines exist for South Africa. At this stage, any professional can conduct such an investigation. This problem statement resulted in the following research goal, namely to develop and evaluate a forensic assessment model for the assessment of the sexually abused child in South Africa. It further resulted in the four research objectives indicated below: * To investigate by means of a literature study the specialised knowledge a forensic investigator must possess before interviewing a sexually abused child (Article 1). * To identify by means of a literature study as well as an empirical investigation, international forensic models and protocols and to evaluate their use in the South African context (Article 2). * To identify by means of a literature study as well as the information gathered from experts in the field of forensic investigations during the previous phase, the content of a South African forensic assessment model for children in middle childhood (Article 3). * To evaluate the developed forensic assessment model by means of an empirical study with professional role players in cases of child sexual abuse (Article 4). The Design and Development model (D & D) was implemented. The model comprises six phases, which all have been used during this study. Qualitative as well as quantitative data were utilized. The literature studies focused on important child developmental aspects forensic investigators should be knowledgeable about before they can conduct forensic investigations as well as the process that needs to be followed during forensic investigations. Section B consists of the four articles in which the research goals and research outcomes are reported. Each article is dealt with as a self-contained unit focusing on specific research objectives achieved via specific research methods. These methods were employed to collect the necessary data for designing and evaluating the forensic assessment model. Article 1 - The objective of this article was to identify and discuss, by means of a literature study, the most important developmental aspects that have an influence on the investigation of child sexual abuse of children in middle childhood. An investigation into the existing literature on important developmental aspects of children in middle childhood was carried out, which could possibly influence the outcome of a forensic investigation. The results of this research indicated cognitive, sexual and language development as being important developmental aspects that forensic investigators must be knowledgeable about, as this can influence the outcome of a forensic investigation. Interviewing protocols were also reviewed. Article 2 - There are mainly four scientific forensic models that form the basis of a forensic investigation. A second important aspect is the forensic interviewing protocol forensic investigators employ during their investigations. It was important to establish what model and protocol would be the most suitable in the South African context, since currently, no such model or protocol exists for the South African context. The objective of this article was to compare and evaluate by means of a literature study as well as an empirical investigation, effective international forensic models and protocols and to evaluate it in the South African context. In this article the researcher presented, analysed and interpreted research findings based on responses provided by 18 (N=18) experts from the country in the field of forensic investigations into child sexual abuse. The research questions focused on how they conduct forensic investigations as well as what models and protocols they employ during their forensic investigations. The purpose was to determine what protocols and models will be suitable for the South African context. In this research, Exponential Non-Discriminative Snowball Sampling was applied in order to identify participants. The results of this research indicated that the comprehensive assessment model, as well as the NICHD forensic protocol, will be the best to employ in the South African context. Article 3 - The research goal of this article was to develop a forensic assessment model for the South African context. This assessment model consists of different phases and will guide forensic investigators from the moment they receive a referral, until the cases is closed. The model was developed from the results obtained during the previous article, as well as in-depth literature study. Article 4 - The purpose of this article was to evaluate the developed forensic assessment model. This was done by a panel of respondents that consisted of four (N=4) state prosecutors, seven (N=7) forensic experts, as well as 12 (N=12) postgraduate students doing their Master‟s degree in Forensic Practice. This was done by means of semi-structured interviews, as well as self-structured questionnaires. The state prosecutors were selected by means of the Exponential Non-Discriminative Snowball Sampling method and the forensic experts were selected by means of judgemental sampling. The total population of the postgraduate students was involved and therefore no sampling method was employed. The results of this research indicated that this developed forensic assessment model is effective for investigating cases of child sexual abuse. It correlates with the expectations of state prosecutors, it is in line with what literature recommends and how experts in the field are currently conducting forensic investigations and it equipped post-graduate students with the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise in order to conduct forensic investigations. In Section C is a summary of the findings and conclusions of the research report are drawn and some recommendations are made. Section D consists of various addenda such as questionnaires that were used. Section E contained an integrated bibliography. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Currently no guidelines exist for South African professionals that work with sexually abused children. Professionals in this field are in desperate need of such guidelines. Section A refers to the problem statement, research objectives, research procedures and research methodology. The keywords as well as the limitations of the research are investigated. The research was conducted in two phases. In phase one the researcher compared international forensic assessment models and protocols and compared it with what is relevant in South Africa and in phase two the development, implementation, and evaluation of the forensic assessment model took place. The problem statement in section A is based on the following: Currently no guidelines exist for professionals in South Africa that work with children that have been sexually abused. There is a misconception, even among social workers, that all social workers are equipped to work with sexually abused children. Often the child and the offender are the only witnesses to the crime and therefore it is crucial that the investigation must be conducted effectively. If untrained professionals conduct such an investigation it can lead to a child that is at risk of being sexually abused not being protected because it seems that no abuse had taken place, or it can lead to an innocent person being wrongfully accused of sexual abuse. It is important for professionals to use scientific and legally defensible models and protocols when conducting forensic investigation. As previously mentioned, no such guidelines exist for South Africa. At this stage, any professional can conduct such an investigation. This problem statement resulted in the following research goal, namely to develop and evaluate a forensic assessment model for the assessment of the sexually abused child in South Africa. It further resulted in the four research objectives indicated below: * To investigate by means of a literature study the specialised knowledge a forensic investigator must possess before interviewing a sexually abused child (Article 1). * To identify by means of a literature study as well as an empirical investigation, international forensic models and protocols and to evaluate their use in the South African context (Article 2). * To identify by means of a literature study as well as the information gathered from experts in the field of forensic investigations during the previous phase, the content of a South African forensic assessment model for children in middle childhood (Article 3). * To evaluate the developed forensic assessment model by means of an empirical study with professional role players in cases of child sexual abuse (Article 4). The Design and Development model (D & D) was implemented. The model comprises six phases, which all have been used during this study. Qualitative as well as quantitative data were utilized. The literature studies focused on important child developmental aspects forensic investigators should be knowledgeable about before they can conduct forensic investigations as well as the process that needs to be followed during forensic investigations. Section B consists of the four articles in which the research goals and research outcomes are reported. Each article is dealt with as a self-contained unit focusing on specific research objectives achieved via specific research methods. These methods were employed to collect the necessary data for designing and evaluating the forensic assessment model. Article 1 - The objective of this article was to identify and discuss, by means of a literature study, the most important developmental aspects that have an influence on the investigation of child sexual abuse of children in middle childhood. An investigation into the existing literature on important developmental aspects of children in middle childhood was carried out, which could possibly influence the outcome of a forensic investigation. The results of this research indicated cognitive, sexual and language development as being important developmental aspects that forensic investigators must be knowledgeable about, as this can influence the outcome of a forensic investigation. Interviewing protocols were also reviewed. Article 2 - There are mainly four scientific forensic models that form the basis of a forensic investigation. A second important aspect is the forensic interviewing protocol forensic investigators employ during their investigations. It was important to establish what model and protocol would be the most suitable in the South African context, since currently, no such model or protocol exists for the South African context. The objective of this article was to compare and evaluate by means of a literature study as well as an empirical investigation, effective international forensic models and protocols and to evaluate it in the South African context. In this article the researcher presented, analysed and interpreted research findings based on responses provided by 18 (N=18) experts from the country in the field of forensic investigations into child sexual abuse. The research questions focused on how they conduct forensic investigations as well as what models and protocols they employ during their forensic investigations. The purpose was to determine what protocols and models will be suitable for the South African context. In this research, Exponential Non-Discriminative Snowball Sampling was applied in order to identify participants. The results of this research indicated that the comprehensive assessment model, as well as the NICHD forensic protocol, will be the best to employ in the South African context. Article 3 - The research goal of this article was to develop a forensic assessment model for the South African context. This assessment model consists of different phases and will guide forensic investigators from the moment they receive a referral, until the cases is closed. The model was developed from the results obtained during the previous article, as well as in-depth literature study. Article 4 - The purpose of this article was to evaluate the developed forensic assessment model. This was done by a panel of respondents that consisted of four (N=4) state prosecutors, seven (N=7) forensic experts, as well as 12 (N=12) postgraduate students doing their Master‟s degree in Forensic Practice. This was done by means of semi-structured interviews, as well as self-structured questionnaires. The state prosecutors were selected by means of the Exponential Non-Discriminative Snowball Sampling method and the forensic experts were selected by means of judgemental sampling. The total population of the postgraduate students was involved and therefore no sampling method was employed. The results of this research indicated that this developed forensic assessment model is effective for investigating cases of child sexual abuse. It correlates with the expectations of state prosecutors, it is in line with what literature recommends and how experts in the field are currently conducting forensic investigations and it equipped post-graduate students with the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise in order to conduct forensic investigations. In Section C is a summary of the findings and conclusions of the research report are drawn and some recommendations are made. Section D consists of various addenda such as questionnaires that were used. Section E contained an integrated bibliography. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014