OBJECTIVE We examined attorneys' experiences, perceptions, and decisions regarding plea recommendations in child sexual cases. HYPOTHESES We hypothesized that characteristics of the child (age, relationship to alleged perpetrator) and the report (timing of disclosure, consistency across reports) would affect attorneys' perceptions of evidence strength, likelihood of conviction, and plea recommendations. METHOD We collected data from a national sample of actively practicing prosecutors (n = 217) and defense attorneys (n = 251) who had experience with child abuse cases. They averaged 18 years of experience practicing law, were slightly more likely to be men (53%) than women, and primarily identified as White, non-Hispanic (86%). In Part 1, attorneys answered general questions about their experiences in child sexual abuse cases. In Part 2, they reviewed materials from a hypothetical case that varied the child's age (5 years, 11 years), the child's relationship to the alleged perpetrator (familial, nonfamilial), the timing of the child's initial disclosure (1 week, 6 months), and the consistency of the child's report (inconsistent, consistent). They rated the evidence strength, estimated the likelihood of conviction, and assessed whether they would recommend that the defendant accept a plea offer or proceed to trial. RESULTS In Part 1, attorneys reported that they often have access to police reports, information about the alleged perpetrator, and evidence from the child when making plea recommendations. They said that it was important to know about prior allegations against the alleged perpetrator or by the child when assessing their credibility. They reported that the length of the sentence, sex offender registration requirement, and possibility of time served guided their plea recommendations. In Part 2, the consistency of the child's report influenced their decisions the most; they rated the evidence against the defendant as stronger when the child was consistent across reports than when the child was inconsistent. Additionally, their perceptions of evidence strength drove their recommendations. When the evidence against the defendant was stronger, attorneys thought that the defendant was more likely to be convicted at trial; thus, prosecutors were less willing and defense attorneys were more willing to recommend a plea. CONCLUSION Similar to other cases, evidence strength and the perceived likelihood of conviction drive attorneys' decisions to offer or recommend a plea to a defendant in a child sexual abuse case. The consistency of the child's report plays a major role in predicting perceptions of evidence strength. Future research is needed to determine which other factors in child sexual abuse cases may also predict attorneys' perceptions and plea recommendations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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律师在儿童性虐待案件中的经验、看法和认罪建议。


目标 我们研究了律师关于儿童性案件中认罪建议的经验、看法和决定。假设我们假设儿童的特征（年龄、与被指控犯罪者的关系）和报告（披露时间、报告之间的一致性）会影响律师对证据强度、定罪可能性和抗辩建议的看法。方法 我们从全国样本中收集了数据，其中包括积极执业、有虐待儿童案件经验的检察官 (n = 217) 和辩护律师 (n = 251)。他们平均有 18 年的法律执业经验，男性 (53%) 略高于女性，并且主要是非西班牙裔白人 (86%)。在第 1 部分中，律师回答了有关他们在儿童性虐待案件中的经历的一般性问题。在第 2 部分中，他们审查了来自假设案件的材料，该案件改变了孩子的年龄（5 岁、11 岁）、孩子与被指控犯罪者的关系（家庭、非家庭）、孩子首次披露的时间（1 周、6 个月） ），以及孩子报告的一致性（不一致、一致）。他们评估证据强度，估计定罪的可能性，并评估是否会建议被告接受认罪提议或继续审判。结果 在第 1 部分中，律师报告说，在提出认罪建议时，他们经常可以查阅警方报告、有关被指控犯罪者的信息以及儿童的证据。他们表示，在评估其可信度时，了解对被指控的肇事者或儿童的先前指控非常重要。 他们报告说，刑期长短、性犯罪者登记要求和服刑时间的可能性指导了他们的认罪建议。在第二部分中，孩子报告的一致性对他们的决定影响最大；他们认为，当孩子在报告中前后一致时，针对被告的证据比当孩子在报告中不一致时更有力。此外，他们对证据强度的看法也推动了他们的建议。当对被告不利的证据更加有力时，​​律师认为被告在审判中被定罪的可能性更大；因此，检察官不太愿意，而辩护律师则更愿意建议认罪。结论 与其他案件类似，证据强度和定罪可能性促使律师决定向儿童性虐待案件中的被告提供或建议抗辩。儿童报告的一致性在预测对证据强度的看法方面发挥着重要作用。未来的研究需要确定儿童性虐待案件中的哪些其他因素也可以预测律师的看法和认罪建议。 （PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2024 APA，保留所有权利）。