NCJ Number
168322
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (1997) Pages: 91-111
Date Published
1997
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study explored how various factors regarding victim, offender, abuse situation and case evidence were related to prosecution decisions in child sexual abuse cases.
Abstract
Data were collected from records of 200 closed child sexual abuse cases served at a southwestern United States agency during 1989-1990. Results indicated that cases involving recently reported abuse and multiple child victims were significantly more likely to be prosecuted than cases involving less recently reported abuses and single child victims. Prosecution was most likely when offenders were strangers, next most likely for acquaintances and step and extended family members, and least likely for biological nuclear family members. Cases with medical evidence of abuse were more likely to be prosecuted than cases without medical evidence only when serious abuse was involved. Prosecution was significantly less likely for cases with younger victims than for cases with older victims. Seriousness of abuse, presence of medical evidence, and recency of abuse did not account for this victim age-prosecution status relationship. No cases involving possible custody disputes were prosecuted. Tables, notes, references