ABSTRACT
The legal and ethical issues faced by mental health professionals in cases of child sexual abuse in the United States are both complex and controversial. This chapter focuses on two of the most highly disputed areas of professionals' involvement in such cases: reporting instances of suspected maltreatment and providing expert testimony at case adjudication. It suggests that many mental health professionals remain underinvolved in reporting cases of suspected maltreatment, yet frequently are overinvolved in providing expert opinions in courts.
