CSA Testimony Topics
A Cure for a Non-Problem
A fundamental question: Why is the CIB expert needed?
Age and Timing of Disclosure
Exploration of how the age of a child can impact disclosing abuse.
Behavioral Indicators of Child Sex Abuse Victims
Dr. Dutton’s critique of behavioral indicators of CSA.
Children’s Autobiographical Memory
Dr. Dutton’s description of children’s autobiographical memory.
COUNTERING Counterintuitive Testimony (Child, handout)
Handout for a three-hour CLE provided to the State Bar of Arizona
Criteria Based Content Analysis/Statement Validity Analysis
Dr. Dutton’s description on Statement Validity Analysis (SVA).
Delayed Disclosure and Piecemeal Disclosure
Dr. Dutton’s statements on Delayed and Piecemeal Disclosure.
Difficulty with Identifying Dates of Abuse
Dr. Dutton’s description of children identifying dates of abuse.
Dissociation/Hyperarousal
Dr. Dutton’s description of dissociation and hyperarousal.
Do molesters molest when others are in the room?
An unfounded belief that Dr. Dutton has promoted over the years.
Dr. Dutton’s recommended Forensic Interview Techniques
Dr. Dutton’s description of appropriate child interview.
Extended Forensic Evaluation When Sexual Abuse Is Suspected: A Multisite Field Study
This is a must-have article that identifies the unfounded and false rates of CSA allegations (68%)
Fight/Flight/Freeze
Overview of “fight-flight-freeze” or “tonic immobility”.
Gender and Disclosure
Dr. Dutton’s description of gender and disclosure.
Memory for Traumatic Events
Research on how trauma impacts memory.
Piecemeal Disclosure
Research on piecemeal disclosure.
Process of Victimization or Perpetrators’ Process of Victimization
Dr. Dutton’s profile testimony regarding “Perpetrators’ Process of Victimization”
Reasons Children Delay Disclosure
Dr. Dutton’s description of delayed disclosure in children.
Reasons Children Disclose Purposefully
Children typically disclose purposefully because they want the abuse to stop, or are seeking emotional support in dealing with the abuse. Some children report when the perpetrator has left their environment, so they feel safe in reporting. Articles cited by …
Recantation
Recantation of valid reports of abuse are most often associated with lack of maternal support of the reporting victim. Child victims may recant due to pressure from mothers or other non-supportive relatives. Children may recant when they experience negative consequences …
Reluctant Disclosers and Avoidant Children in Forensic Interviews
Reluctant Disclosers and Avoidant Children in Forensic InterviewsChildren use several common tactics to avoid discussing embarrassing or traumatic details in forensic interviews. Lack of memory, question avoidance, changing subjects, or refusing to answer questions are common strategies children employ. Articles …
Script Memory
Script memory refers to memory of the general pattern of repeated events. Memory tends to stay more stable for script memory. Episodic memory refers to a memory for a specific incident. Articles cited by Dutton: Brubacher & La Rooy, 2014; …
Sexual Behavior in Abused and Non-abused Children
Exploratory sexual behavior is common in young children. However, certain sexual behaviors are more common in children who have experienced sexual abuse than children with no history of abuse. These behaviors include: asking to engage in sexual acts, engaging in …
Stranger v. Intimate Abuse
Most children report that they are abused by someone with whom they have a relationship or acquaintance. The minority of cases of CSA are committed by someone unknown to the child. Articles cited by Dutton:Berliner & Conte, 1990; Conte et …
The Null Hypotheses: Proven and Unfounded Claims of CSA
Here’s the scenario, in your trial the counterintuitive expert testifies she has forensically interviewed over 21,000 children. Trick question: “How many of the 21,000 children had unproven allegations?” Answer: “All of them.” When the counter-intuitive expert describes what she has …