Browsing by Author "Stolzenberg, S. N., & Lyon, T. D."
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Item Evidence summarized in attorneys' closing arguments predicts acquittals in criminal trials of child sexual abuse(Child Maltreatment, 2014) Stolzenberg, S. N., & Lyon, T. D.Evidence summarized in attorney’s closing arguments of criminal child sexual abuse cases (N=189) was coded to predict acquittal rates. Ten variables were significant bivariate predictors; five variables significant at p<.01 were entered into a multivariate model. Cases were likely to result in an acquittal when the defendant was not charged with force, the child maintained contact with the defendant after the abuse occurred, or the defense presented a hearsay witness regarding the victim’s statements, a witness regarding the victim’s character, or a witness regarding another witnesses’ character (usually the mother). The findings suggest that jurors might believe that child molestation is akin to a stereotype of violent rape and that they may be swayed by defense challenges to the victim’s credibility and the credibility of those close to the victim. (Author Abstract)Item How Attorneys Question Children About the Dynamics of Sexual Abuse and Disclosure in Criminal Trials(Public Policy and Law, 2014) Stolzenberg, S. N., & Lyon, T. D.Little is known about how the dynamics of sexual abuse and disclosure are discussed in criminal court. We examined how attorneys ask child witnesses in sexual abuse cases (N = 72, 6 –16 years of age) about their prior conversations, both with suspects and with disclosure recipients. Prosecutors’ questions were more open-ended than defense attorneys, but most questions asked by either attorney were yes/no questions, and children tended to provide unelaborated responses. Prosecutors were more inclined to ask about children’s prior conversations with suspects than defense attorneys, but focused on the immediate abuse rather than on grooming behavior or attempts to silence the victim. Prosecutors were also more inclined to ask about children’s motives for disclosing or for failing to disclose than defense attorneys, but in most cases, failed to ask. Both types of attorney asked children about prior disclosures, although defense attorneys were more inclined to ask children to recall specific content in particular disclosures. On average, children were asked about five disclosure recipients, and denied disclosing some information in 93% of cases. Attorneys exhibited little sensitivity to the age of the child in selecting their questions. The implications of the results for improving the process by which abuse cases are tried in court are discussed.