Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
Summer 2024
Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is pervasive yet frequently unprosecuted. Thus, we explored predictors of CSA case prosecutorial decisions. Legal professionals (N=262) read a mock case depicting a 9-year-old who disclosed sexual abuse perpetrated by her teacher. We experimentally manipulated the CSA victim’s investigative cooperativeness (uncooperative vs. cooperative), the victim’s race (Black vs. White), and the perpetrator’s race (Black vs. White). Although there were few effects of defendant or victim race, participants less often recommended prosecution when the victim was uncooperative (vs. cooperative)—effects mediated by reduced perceived victim credibility and beliefs that jurors would be skeptical of the CSA allegations.
Rights Statements
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/
Recommended Citation
Sun, Marissa H. and Stevenson, Margaret C., "Understanding Child Sexual Abuse Prosecutorial Decisions: The Influence of Race and Victim Cooperativeness" (2024). John W. Adams Summer Scholars Program in Socio-Legal Studies. Paper 12.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/summerlegalprogram/12