Quick Reference to Child and Adolescent Forensics most assuredly needs to have a prominent place in the library of any forensic nurse or health professional and have very worn pages from its frequent use." --On the Edge, Newsletter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses Muscari and Brown have written a great reference work for anyone who works with either child or teen victims or perpetrators of violent crime...Highly recommended." --Choice This is a comprehensive guide to all forensic aspects of the treatment of children and teens, important to all health care providers who will encounter young patients...Highly recommended." --Choice Drs. Muscari and Brown have synthesized the key information on forensics pediatrics and produced a 'must read' text that needs to be on every person's bookshelf. --Ann Wolbert Burgess, DNSc, APRN, BC Professor of Psychiatric Nursing, Boston College Health care practitioners frequently work with victims of child abuse, sexual assault, and juvenile offenders, but often lack the education and resources they need to deal with the everyday forensic issues of pediatric practice. This quick guide provides current information that assists pediatric practitioners with the prevention, identification, and management of pediatric victims and offenders. The book describes the general principles of forensics and its implications in pediatric practice, including the cycle, continuum, and cultural aspects of violence. It also serves as a guide to conducting the forensic assessment and recording the legal documentation, collecting evidence, navigating the criminal and family justice systems, and producing expert witness testimony. The authors clearly define the role of the pediatric provider working with children who witness violence at home, in the community, and in the media. Key topics: How to detect abusive parents as well as abused children The effects of victimization of children by abusive, absent, or incarcerated parents Delinquency and juvenile justice systems-with insight into bullying, school violence, arson, gang membership, juvenile sex offending, and dating violence Unnatural pediatric deaths, such as sudden unexpected infant and child death, accidents, homicides, and suicides Practicing emergency room nurses, pediatric critical care nurses, nurse practitioners, and student practitioners will find this book to be an essential reference guide for managing and understanding pediatric forensics.

Table of Contents:
Preface: The Forensic Aspects of Pediatrics SECTION I: GENERAL PRINCIPLES 1. Cultural Aspects of Forensic Pediatrics 2. The Effects of Violence Exposure on Children 3. Forensic Assessment and Documentation 4. Principles of Evidence 5. Navigating the Juvenile Justice System 6. Expert Witness Testimony 7. Professional Stress and Burnout SECTION II: CHILDREN AS VICTIMS 8. Child Abuse 9. Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma 10. Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy 11. Sexual Abuse 12. Sexual Exploitation 13. Child Abductions 14. Psychological Effects of Victimization 15. Children of Incarcerated Parents SECTION III: CHILDREN AS OFFENDERS 16. Juvenile Delinquency 17. Child Delinquents 18. Female Delinquents 19. Bullying 20. School Violence 21. Juvenile Animal Cruelty 22. Juvenile Firesetting 23. Gangs 24. Juvenile Sex Offenders 25. Dating Violence SECTION IV: UNNATURAL DEATHS 26. Medicolegal Child Death Investigation 27. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death 28. Filicide 29. Child and Adolescent Suicide 30. Asphyxial "Games" 31. Homicide Survivors Appendix Brief Forensic Glossary Index