Abstract:
The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study found that approximately one out of six men were
sexually abused as children. Unfortunately, most sexually abused boys will never make an outcry
during childhood and, even if abuse is discovered, investigators and prosecutors will face barriers
that impede their ability to protect these children. This article explores the research on the sexual
abuse of boys and offers concrete suggestions for conducting forensic interviews with these
children, investigating crimes against boys, and presenting these cases to a jury. This is done, in part,
through a discussion of a hypothetical case study that illustrates the challenges of responding to
crimes against boys.