NCJ Number
201291
Date Published
2002
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This chapter argues that there is scientific support for the use of child sexual abuse accommodation, and that, therefore, it is both acceptable and crucial to introduce this type of expert testimony in the prosecution of sexual offenders.
Abstract
The author begins by outlining the objections to child sexual abuse accommodation (CSAA), including arguments that it is unsupported by the scientific research and that CSAA is irrelevant in diagnosing abuse. In response to these claims, the author argues that observational and experimental research has supported CSAA and that research casting doubt on the existence of accommodation tends to suffer from methodological flaws. Furthermore, the author notes that CSAA was not meant to be a diagnostic tool and that criticisms against its diagnostic accuracy misunderstand both the purpose and the utility of accommodation. The author also discusses recent case law that makes it imperative to address the issue of whether CSAA is scientifically valid, especially considering the courts’ penchant for expert testimony that is scientifically grounded. The observational and experimental research on children’s disclosure processes are reviewed to offer evidence that accommodation does occur among a substantial number of abused children, striking down the criticism that there is no scientific proof of accommodation. In conclusion, the author asserts that CSAA is a useful tool for educating jurors on the etiology of child sexual abuse and its effects on the child victims. References