By Craig R. McCoy
Philadelphia Inquirer
April 10, 2011
http://articles.philly.com/2011-04-10/news/29403550_1_archdiocese-last-month-abuse-investigations-child-development
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| Gina Maisto Smith is a former homicide and sexual-assault prosecutor. |
The cases can be beyond cold, dating back decades.
The wrongful conduct can be as blatant as rape, or as subtle as a whispered compliment.
And the accused are among the most respected men in the region.
To sort it all out, the former sex-crimes prosecutor heading the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's investigation of nearly 30 suspended priests has put together a team that includes experts on the psychology of sex offenders and a pair of ex-police officers from the Special Victims Unit.
Gina Maisto Smith aims to finish her digging in six to nine months.
"These cases at their core are very complex," she said in an interview last week. "They often involve word against word, a delay in reporting, difficult psychological issues on both sides, and allegations typically not supported by physical evidence."
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