Sage Publications This 126-page book was written by a Ph.D. and former deputy sheriff who was one of the original developers of the anatomically-detailed dolls. There are 10 chapters and 6 appendices. The book describes the dolls and addresses general problems in interviewing, including fear, vocabulary limitations, embarrassment, and the developmental level of person interviewed. The accused and the mother are not discussed. Three chapters cover pretrial preparation and interviewing the alleged child victim. One chapter briefly discusses legal issues. Morgan recommends audio- or videotaping all interviews, admits most interviewers are not trained in doll use, and includes an exercise for interviewers to learn how not to ask leading questions. One chapter gives suggestions some impractical, for "Do's and Don'ts" in interviewing. In the last chapter the author discusses social agency limitations that will be likely in the future, such as downsizing of staff, cost reductions, and processing community backlash. There is a selective list of references that does not reflect the current questions concerning the use of doll evidence in court. The book may help standardize interviews, since it reads like a cook book. But the author's bias is evident in the very title of the book, "How to Interview Sexual Abuse Victims." Why did she not call her book, "How to Interview Child Witnesses, " or, at the minimum, "How to Interview Alleged Child Victims"? The problem of false allegations and innocent accused persons are not even mentioned. There is nothing new in this book and it is not recommended. Reviewed by LeRoy G. Schultz, Professor Emeritus of Social Work, West Virginia University.
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