NCJ Number
247605
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 23 Issue: 4 Dated: 2014 Pages: 431-441
Date Published
2014
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Child sexual abuse cases have one of the lowest conviction rates across all charges.
Abstract
Child sexual abuse cases have one of the lowest conviction rates across all charges. While research has investigated the impact of attitudes and beliefs in judicial decision makers, little is known about the influence of medical evidence. The aim of this study was to examine how the presence or absence of evidence impacts on conviction. A sample of 113 child sexual abuse cases from Australia were coded for the types of evidence that were presented as well as other relevant descriptive data. The most significant predictor of verdict was the behavior of the child rather than the presence of medical evidence. This finding suggests that greater attention might be given to the collection and reporting of this evidence in future trials. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor Francis.