Forensic Considerations in Ritual Trauma Cases (Part 3)

Children who have been ritually traumatized since birth, or over an extensive period of time, may also be suffering the effects of psychological conditioning and programming, as well as DID. Removing them from the environment which reinforces such conditioning and programming is extremely important. Once removed from various “reinforcements” that an abusive environment provides, conditioning and programming often begin to fall apart. The end result is that a child’s behavior (e.g., after being in foster care for a year or so without any significant problems) may rapidly deteriorate without apparent explanation. In reality, the structure underlying the child’s conditioning or programming is collapsing, thereby allowing the child to begin remembering and processing his or her former trauma. While system protocol may direct that the child be removed from this alternative placement, a knowledgeable professional will recognize that this may not necessarily be in the child’s best interest. In the Snow and Sorenson study cited above, the authors note:

“Disclosure became a process, not an event. As the process of disclosure brought children closer to their psychological pain and terror, behavioral and emotional problems emerged. Indeed, it appeared that children got worse before they got better. Depression with an unusual impending sense of death at their own or another’s hand, extreme hyperactivity, aggressive acting out, obsessive fears and compulsions, reenactment of abusive rituals, and intense sibling conflict characterized the children’s behavior as the disclosure process progressed.”

VI. “BEST PRACTICE” GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONALS

A. PROSECUTORS, ATTORNEYS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

[Note: Law enforcement officers and prosecutors are encouraged to carefully read Section V above, as well as a two-part article by journalist Civia Tamarkin entitled “Investigative Issues in Ritual Abuse Cases” ]

Investigations related to ritual abuse allegations should center around any and all evidence corroborating the victim’s statements that can be subsequently used in court. Naturally, this would include interviews with any witnesses that might have knowledge about the case: the child and other children whom the child relates may have been involved; the alleged perpetrator(s); the family and other siblings; individuals from the neighborhood, day care, or other setting where the abuse was alleged to have taken place; teachers and counselors; medical doctors and mental health professionals evaluating or treating the child; social workers, foster parents, and CASA/GAL advocates who may have had contact with the child; and any other individual having possible information which would further the investigation. Keep in mind that once the interviewing process moves beyond

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