NCJ Number
137957
Journal
Pediatrics Volume: 84 Issue: 6 Dated: (December 1989) Pages: 1022-1026
Date Published
1989
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Information from Philadelphia court records of 45 randomly selected cases of child sexual abuse in 1987 were used to determine the frequency and significance of physical evidence in these legally proven felony cases that involved penetration.
Abstract
The 45 cases involved 42 girls and 13 boys who ranged in age from 3.5 to 16 years. Most cases involved single victims and single perpetrators. Thirty-two cases involved charges of vaginal rape; 16, oral penetration; and 23, sodomy. Most of the perpetrators were previously known to their victims. Results revealed no significant difference in the rate of felony convictions in cases with or without physical evidence. Multiple variables describing the abuse situation were also not found to affect the legal outcome of the cases. Among cases that resulted in felony convictions, physical evidence was present in only 23 percent. Results should be helpful for the clinician in counseling the family of the sexual abuse victim and the attorney who prosecutes child sexual abuse cases. Tables (Author abstract modified)