A Mother's Nightmare - Incest: A Practical Legal Guide for Parents and Professionals

When parents - usually mothers - try to protect their children from sexual abuse, they can be devastated to find that support from the legal system is not always there. Suspecting their husbands or partners of the abuse, mothers may seek a divorce and custody or, if already divorced, request withdrawal of visitation rights. However, if unable to prove abuse, a mother can be labelled `hysterical' and her desperate efforts to secure her child's safety may jeopardize her case - and even result in the suspected perpetrator being granted custody of the child.

A ddressesing this troubling issue, this book provides parents and professionals with the necessary information to protect themselves against a legal system backfire. John E B Myers advises parents not to act too quickly, stresses the importance of documenting evidence and supplies a step-by-step strategy for attaining victory in the current United States court system. Topics discussed include: psychosocial evaluations; legal options; consequences of false allegations; and maintaining emotional balance.

One Mother's Nightmare PART ONE: ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE Defining Child Sexual Abuse and Other Forms of Child Maltreatment What Does the Future Hold for a Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused? Who Are the Men Who Sexually Abuse Children? Why Do They Do It? Can Molesters Be Cured? PART TWO: A MOTHER'S ALLIES: THE LEGAL SYSTEM, A GOOD LAWYER, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS Introduction to the US Legal System Criminal Court, Family Court, Juvenile Court Finding a Lawyer Help from Mental Health Professionals The Critically Important Psychosocial Assessment PART THREE: DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, FAMILY COURT, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND JUVENILE COURT The Criminal Justice System Family Court Divorce, Child Custody and Child Visitation Child Protective Services Agency and Juvenile Court PART FOUR: PROVING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN COURT: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND PROTECTING YOUR CHILD Obstacles to Proving Child Sexual Abuse in Court Sorting Out Your Suspicions, Controlling Your Emotions The Legal Importance of What Your Child Tells You and Others about the Abuse Changes in Your Child's Behavior as Evidence of Sexual Abuse PART FIVE: SUMMING IT ALL UP: PLAN FOR VICTORY, PREPARE FOR DEFEAT Plan for Victory Prepare for Defeat