title: Legal outcomes for children who have been sexually abused: the impact of child abuse assessment center evaluations.
abstract: Fifty children who were seen at a Child Abuse Assessment Center (CAAC) were matched on age and relationship to perpetrator with 51 children not evaluated at a CAAC to determine whether the groups differed in legal outcomes in cases of sexual abuse. CAAC children were significantly more likely to have cases filed rather than no-actioned, to have more overall counts charged in filed cases, to have more counts charged against biological fathers and stepfathers who were alleged perpetrators, and to have a greater number of defendants pleading or being found guilty compared to cases involving children not seen at the CAAC. There were also significantly more cases filed for 4- to 6-year-olds and children at least 12 years old if they were seen at the CAAC. The implications of the results are discussed in light of the use of CAACs.
authors.affiliation: Liberty House.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joa
authors.forename: Meredyth G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Edelson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D013404:Suggestion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States