NCJ Number
145130
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: (1993) Pages: 17-26
Date Published
1993
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This is a study of public opinion toward child sexual abuse and how it compares to both traditional and innovative intervention programs developed by child sexual abuse professionals.
Abstract
Although the public's "get-tough" attitude toward child sexual abuse perpetrators may be justified, but it is not an easy proposition, especially in traditional felony hearings. Common problems are that the child may not be a credible witness or may be secondarily victimized by the legal process. Of 464 Alabamians who were interviewed by telephone, overwhelming majorities favored prosecuting child sexual abuse offenders (93.1 percent), increasing prison time (82.3 percent), and providing treatment for the victim (96.3 percent) and family (95.9 percent). Citizens were less enthusiastic about treatment for the offender (75.9 percent) and prosecution based on treatability (61.8 percent). Most people (86.9 percent) rejected the notion of leniency. Public attitudes sometimes contradict one another; these respondents showed a belief in reducing the need for child victims to testify, but they also recommended tough measures against offenders that make victim testimony more crucial. They approved of most measures characteristic of innovative child sexual abuse programs for example, leniency for first- time, intrafamilial offenders. 4 tables and 26 references