Intrafamilial child sexual abuse: intervention programs for first time offenders and their families.

Traditional legal and therapeutic interventions in child sexual abuse cases are often unsuccessful and can be especially counterproductive for intrafamilial assaults. Many communities responded with innovative programs. Three strategies that integrate treatment with legal procedures are described. They include a Pretrial Diversion program in which incarceration time is reduced if the offender attends a treatment program; a Post-Plea Diversion program that postpones the felony hearing pending the successful completion of an offender treatment program, and a Pre-Legal Diversion program in which there was no legal intervention if the accused successfully completed treatment. The programs are described and then compared across professional activity variables. It was found that: (a) Case processing was timely and equitable across the three programs; (b) victim medical examinations were uncommon; (c) counseling was the predominant type of service provided; and (d) services were not routinely provided to families. It appears that the most promising strategy for first offense, intrafamilial assaults, may be the Pre-Legal Diversion program because it provides the most protection to children through routine medical exams and juvenile court petitions, and it provides the most equitable distribution of services to the victims and offenders.