Citation

Bode-Jänisch S, Voigt S, Gunther D, Debertin AS. Arch. Kriminol. 2011; 228(1-2): 20-38.

Vernacular Title

Klinisch-forensische Untersuchungsergebnisse und rechtliche Folgen bei sexuellem

Affiliation

Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Verlag Schmidt-Romhild)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21850883

Abstract

The clinical forensic examinations conducted at the Institute of Legal Medicine of the Hanover Medical School between 1999 and 2008 in cases of suspected sexual abuse of children were evaluated retrospectively and analysed with regard to their legal outcome. In total, the study included 223 children (172 girls, 51 boys) with a median age of 8.6 years. In 34 children (15.2%), forensically relevant diagnostic findings due to anogenital injury and/or detection of semen were recorded. Perpetrators were convicted more often when they were not a member of the victim's family. In cases with victims aged seven years or older, conviction was more common. The study shows that medical findings can best be preserved by an immediate clinical forensic examination. Suspected sexual child abuse can often not be proved by medical examination results, but in some cases diagnostic findings are not mandatory for conviction.

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