Martone M, Jaudes P K, Cavins M K
Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, La Rabida Children's Hospital and Research Center, IL 60649-1395, USA.
Child Abuse Negl. 1996 May;20(5):457-64. doi: 10.1016/0145-2134(96)00020-8.
To describe the outcome of prosecuting alleged intrafamilial/caretaker child sexual abuse, the authors evaluated charts for 1986-1988 at La Rabida Children's Hospital and Research Center in Chicago, plus police records for Area V, Chicago for 1986-1987. The state's attorney's office provided data on outcome of legal proceedings. Of 451 allegations, 324 (72%) were formally designated as probable sexual abuse cases, and 269 (83%) alleged perpetrators were identified. Complaints (77 felonies, 29 misdemeanors, and 30 juvenile charges) were initiated by the police for preliminary hearings against 136 (51%) persons. Of the felony charges, 66 (85.7%) resulted in indictments, and 11 (14.3%) in dismissal of charges by judge or grand jury. Thirty-two (48.5%) of those indicted pleaded guilty, 24 (36%) went to trial; 16 (67%) were found guilty, and 8 (12%) had charges dismissed. Therefore, of the 77 felony complaints initiated, 48 (62%) ended in convictions and 29 (38%) in dismissals or not-guilty verdicts. Only 24 (5%) of the original allegations resulted in trials. Although 30% of allegations and 51% of alleged perpetrators ended up in court, only 17% of the original 451 allegations were prosecuted for a felony. For felony indictments, 36% of victims appeared in court. Forty-three of 48 persons found guilty served time (mean sentencing time, 6.8 years). The mean time from initial hearing to final disposition was 321 days and was significantly longer if the accused either went to trial (501 vs. 236 days) or was found guilty or pleaded guilty (353 vs. 254 days for not-guilty verdicts). The authors conclude that very few children (5%) have to appear as witnesses in court, as most cases are resolved by plea bargaining, and that resolution by trial can take 12 to 16 months.
为描述对涉嫌家庭内部/照料者对儿童性虐待的起诉结果，作者评估了芝加哥拉比达儿童医院及研究中心1986 - 1988年的病历，以及芝加哥第五区1986 - 1987年的警方记录。州检察官办公室提供了法律程序结果的数据。在451起指控中，324起（72%）被正式认定为可能的性虐待案件，269名（83%）被指控的犯罪者被确认身份。警方发起了投诉（77项重罪、29项轻罪和30项少年指控），针对136人（51%）进行初步听证。在重罪指控中，66项（85.7%）导致起诉，11项（14.3%）被法官或大陪审团驳回指控。被起诉的人中有32人（48.5%）认罪，24人（36%）进行审判；16人（67%）被判定有罪，8人（12%）指控被驳回。因此，在发起的77项重罪投诉中，48项（62%）以定罪告终，29项（38%）以驳回指控或无罪裁决告终。最初的指控中只有24项（5%）进行了审判。尽管30%的指控和51%被指控的犯罪者最终上了法庭，但最初451项指控中只有17%因重罪被起诉。对于重罪起诉，36%的受害者出庭。48名被判定有罪的人中有43人服刑（平均量刑时间为6.8年）。从初步听证到最终处置的平均时间为321天，如果被告进行审判（501天对236天）或被判定有罪或认罪（无罪裁决为353天对254天），则时间明显更长。作者得出结论，很少有儿童（5%）必须出庭作证，因为大多数案件通过认罪谈判解决，而且通过审判解决可能需要12到16个月。
