TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Influence of various factors on the legal outcome of cases of child abuse-experiences gathered at an interdisciplinary forensic examination center in Vienna, Austria
JO  - International journal of legal medicine
A1  - Kletecka-Pulker, Maria
A1  - Doppler, Klara
A1  - Völkl-Kernstock, Sabine
A1  - Fischer, Laura
A1  - Eitenberger, Magdalena
A1  - Mussner, Mark
A1  - Klomfar, Sophie
A1  - Mora-Theuer, Eva Anna
A1  - Grylli, Chryssa
A1  - Atanasov, Atanas G.
A1  - Greber-Platzer, Susanne
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To improve the currently low conviction rate in cases of child abuse a forensic examination center for children and adolescents (FOKUS) was established in Vienna, Austria. Besides a state of the art treatment combined with forensic documentation, one of FOKUS' key goals is to identify potential areas for improvements within the process legal proceedings in cases of child abuse through constant scientific monitoring. The accompanying study at hand includes all patients referred to FOKUS within a two year timeframe (n = 233), monitoring their progression from first contact with the medical professionals from FOKUS to the end of criminal proceedings. A detailed analysis of case files was performed in those cases that were reported to the legal authorities by the clinicians of FOKUS (n = 87). Aim of the study is to investigate which factors contribute to the initiation of legal proceedings and a successful conviction. <br><br>RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that main proceedings were opened more often in cases where the offender was an adult (p < 0.001) or admitted his guilt (p < 0.001) and if digital traces were available (p = 0.001) or trial support (p = 0.024) present. Furthermore, the combined occurrence of medical documentation and victim disclosure was related to a higher probability of opening main trials. <br><br>CONCLUSION: These findings underline how challenging the successful persecution of an offender in cases of child abuse is.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0937-9827
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00414-023-03094-y
ID  - ref1
ER  -