Legal Issues in Child Abuse and Neglect Practice

This expanded and updated edition of Legal Issues in Child Abuse and Neglect Practice will familiarize professionals from medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, and related disciplines with the innumerable legal implications in their day-to-day work. Offering a state-of-the-art exploration of the role that law can play in cases of child maltreatment, this edition closes the communication gap between legal and helping professionals that sometimes reduces efficacy and cooperation in achieving the common goal of improving the lives of victimized children. This new edition continues to provide vital information to non-lawyers regarding how the legal system works in child maltreatment cases. John E. B. Myers discusses the prevalence and effects of child maltreatment, and he outlines the child protection system with clarity. Other areas covered include the investigation and reporting laws, issues of confidentiality and disclosure, expert testimony, cross examination and impeachment, and the liability of professionals. Legal Issues in Child Abuse and Neglect Practice is a must-read for mental health and legal professionals, health care providers, educators, and child advocates. Advanced clinical and legal students as well as academics and researchers will also find this material essential.