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Cited by 16Child Abuse and Related TraumaChild Abuse and TraumaSexual Assault and Victimization Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 19 of the 20 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Child sexual abuse—Medical statement conclusions in criminal legal process

Joki-Erkkilä, Minna, Niemi, Jenni, Ellonen, Noora·2014·Forensic Science International
DOI 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.03.006
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Abstract

Objectives To evaluate medical statement conclusions in the criminal-legal process in suspected cases of child sexual abuse (CSA). Study design An observational study of a random sample of 130 medically examined, police reported CSA suspected cases during 2001-2009. Medical statements were evaluated and their conclusions were analyzed with an end-point in the legal process. The data consists of official investigation documents from the University Hospital records, the Police, crime laboratories, the State Prosecutor, and the Courts of Law. Results The median age of the children was 5.3 years (range 11 months-17.3 years) at the time of the suspected sexual abuse. In most cases (76.2%, 99/130) medical statement conclusions neither supported nor excluded the suspicion of CSA. Twenty-one (16.2%) medical statements supported and in 10 cases (7.7%) the conclusion did not support the suspected CSA. Of the suspected CSA cases a hundred (76.9%) proceeded to the Prosecutor. The charge filing rate was 41.5% (54/130). The final conviction rate was 30.8% (40/130) and 74% in the charged cases. Medical statements were mentioned as evidence in the Prosecutor's decision to file charges in 18 (33.3%) of suspected CSA cases and in 15 (36%) of verdicts. A child's clear disclosure of CSA (p<0.001) and medical statements (p=0.037) had a significant role in decision making on convictions. Conclusion In medical statement conclusions, physical findings with proper documentation and interpretation are needed to avoid misunderstandings in the legal process. The present study supports a routine medical statement peer review to minimize the risk of neglect caused by lack of knowledge among authorities working with sexually abused children.

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Metadata

Authors
Joki-Erkkilä, M., Niemi, J., & Ellonen, N.
Affiliations
Police University College (FI)
ORCID
Ellonen, Noora
Venue
Forensic Science International
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-06
Volume
239
Pages
31-36
ISSN
0379-0738 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.03.006
OpenAlex
W2046704302
Cited by
15
References
20
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
FWCI
0.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Forensic Science International (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Child Abuse and Related Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Keywords
child sexual abuse, forensic medical examination, conviction rates, child disclosure, medical peer review, child protection, police investigation
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Child, Preschool, DNA, Documentation, Female, Finland, Forensic Medicine, Humans, Infant, Male, Physical Examination, Retrospective Studies, Semen, DNA Fingerprinting

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