The first part of this presentation will discuss critical areas of corroborating evidence, its sources, and its significance in the investigation and prosecution of child sexual assaults. Because most child sexual assaults lack traditional physical evidence, child victims are at a disadvantage in court unless we put in the work to find evidence corroborating the child’s disclosure. Using examples from child sex assault cases prosecuted by the presenter, this presentation focuses on specific types of corroborating evidence, and how to identify, locate and present that critical evidence. The second part is an interactive workshop applying the concepts discussed in Part 1 to a real-life case. After viewing a video excerpt of the forensic interview of a five-year-old victim of sexual abuse, participants will interactively put Part 1 concepts into practice, identifying and developing the essential corroborating evidence necessary for a good investigation and prosecution, and identifying child victim dynamics that need to be understood in the investigation and explained at trial.
Learning Objectives:
Analyze a child’s disclosure to identify specific critical items of corroborating evidence.
Develop a corroborating evidence plan for investigation and trial.
Prepare the presentation of corroborating evidence at trial.
