Citation

Woiwod DM, Connolly DA. Crim. Justice Rev. 2017; 42(2): 206-225.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Georgia State University Public and Urban Affairs, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0734016817704700

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Due to calls for reform of legislation that accounts for the difficulties complainants of repeated child sexual abuse (CSA) face when asked to particularize individual acts, jurisdictions in the United States and Australia have adopted continuous CSA statutes. Continuous CSA statutes allow for reduced particularity of individual instances when abuse is repeated. In this article, we discuss particularization requirements and how they are adapted in current jurisdictions in the United States and Australia with continuous CSA statutes. We then discuss the relevant research on children's memory for repeated events and frequency to discuss how current and future research can inform the criteria for the charge. Our goal in this article is to inspire thoughtful discussion of continuous CSA legislation, and how current and future psychological research can advance the criteria for the charge. As more jurisdictions consider adopting these statutes, it would be helpful for psychologists and legal professionals to work toward developing a consensus on the criteria for the charge that balances both the victim's capabilities to particularize repeated CSA and various rights of the accused.

Language: en