APS
29th APS Annual Convention · 2017
The Contribution of Psychological Factors to the Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse
- Kristy Shockley
University of Massachusetts, Lowell - Stephanie Block
University of Massachusetts, Lowell - Linda Williams
Wellesley College - Charlotte Wilinsky
University of Massachusetts, Lowell - Eric Wang
University of Massachusetts, Lowell - Keith Widaman
University of California, Riverside
Abstract
Child sexual abuse cases (n = 300) referred for prosecution in four Northeastern US counties demonstrate high rates of attrition. Analysis of the role of case characteristics in court outcomes documents the important contribution of psychological factors (notably presence of caregiver support p<.01) to case outcome.
Criminal Justice