Predictors of Prosecutorial Decisions in Reports of Child Sexual Abuse.
Child Maltreat
; 28(3): 488-499, 2023 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35081788
ABSTRACT
A retrospective examination of 500 child sexual abuse reports to prosecutor's offices analyzed case progress and predictors of attrition, including details about alleged perpetrator(s), victim(s), their families, and other case characteristics. Less than one in five cases proceeded to prosecution. For the full sample, we describe all outcomes and differentiate prosecutors' decisions to (a) intake/close, (b) investigate/close, or (c) prosecute; these stages comprise a 3-level dependent variable. Because it is important to understand which variables are associated with progress to each stage, we examined unique predictors of the decision to "investigate," and to "prosecute." Our multivariate analyses examine 325 cases with a perpetrator aged 16 and older. Caregiver support and perpetrator age were significant predictors across all outcome variables, while other factors were barriers to the "prosecute" decision only. Results highlight the complexities of case characteristics that are important at different stages of prosecutorial decision-making and inform future interventions.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Child Abuse, Sexual
/
Child Abuse
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Child
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Child Maltreat
Journal subject:
PEDIATRIA
Year:
2023
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States