Child Sexual Abuse Report

posted by Edward Nichols, MSW, LCSW-R on Jul 21

Those falsely accused or charged with child sexual abuse often search for the “expert” that will interview the child and determine that the allegations or charges are indeed false.  This search is often unfruitful because determining whether a child was or was not sexually abused is a difficult matter.  This post will explicate why this is true.

Those attempting to determine whether a child was sexual abused, the so-called “experts” often rely on developmentally unusual sexual knowledge and behaviors.  It would seem to follow that such knowledge and behaviors would be indicative of sexual abuse.  The actual research, however, indicates otherwise:

Although quite a few symptoms and behaviors observed in sexually abused children are found in non-abused children, some behaviors are much more frequently observed in sexually abused children.   However, the research seems to indicate that these suggestions are simply not enough to conclude that a child has been sexually abuse.

The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children [APSAC] publishes The APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment.  This book is considered to be the “Bible” regarding standards for assessing the abuse of children.  On the basis of all the research and experience of this national organization, they conclude: “In the final analysis, there is no behavior or set of behaviors — sexual or nonsexual — that is pathognomonic of abuse” [p. 393 -- second edition].  In simple terms, the science does not support the notion that a so-called expert can interview a child and conclude that sexual abuse has, in fact, occurred.

So what about the many falsely accused who must overcome the opinion offered by an “expert” that the child has, in fact, been sexually abuse?  What are the falsely accused to do?

This is exactly the reason that Nichols Consulting works with America’s finest law firms to controvert these wrongfully placed opinions.  We are truly the experts on how false allegations of child sexual abuse are to be forensically defended.  Our resources may be accessed by calling our national hotline — 800.400.8886.