Victims of child sexual abuse often recant their complaints or do not report incidents, making prosecution of offenders difficult. The child with sexual abuse accommodation syndrome (CSAAS) has been used to explain this phenomenon by identifying common behavioral responses. Unlike PTSD but like rape trauma syndrome, CSAAS is not an official diagnostic term and should not be used as evidence of ...

Associate Professor, Computer Forensics & Security, Information Science Dept., Otago School of Business, University of Otago, Corner of Clyde & Union Streets, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand Tel: +64 3 479-8141 Fax: +64 3 479-8311 Email: hwolfe@infoscience. otago.ac.nz In our last column we took a look at being an expert witness and giving forensic evidence testimony. An added word of cautionar...

Scientists, as expert witnesses, can aid juries greatly in their deliberations by explaining technical matters in terms easily comprehensible to jurors. When, however, the expert testimony is based on mere conjecture, speculation, or poor methodology, it can mislead the jury. Such evidence is commonly referred to as junk science.: Contrary to what might be expected, junk science results not onl...

Psychiatric expert testimony is challenging in cases of violence when the accused person submits a defence that he or she was so overwhelmed by emotions triggered by an upsetting event that his or her violent behaviour was an uncontrollable consequence of the emotions. This defence is usually presented in terms of an automatism particularly not attributed to a mental disorder. Clouding testimon...

Abstract Expertise, authority, and testimony refer to aspects of one the most important elements communication cognition. Argumentation theory recognises various forms what we call argumentum ad alia pattern, in which speakers appeal others have said, including Position Know scheme, Witness Testimony Expert Opinion scheme classical verecundiam . In this paper show that involves more than merely...

The American Academy of Pediatrics joins with other medical organizations in emphasizing the obligation of objectivity when its members respond to requests to serve as expert witnesses in the judicial systern. Regardless of the source of the request, such testimony ought to embody the relevant facts and the expert’s knowledge, experience, and best judgment regarding the case. At the same time, ...

Authors’ Disclosures or Potential Conflicts of Interest: Upon manuscript submission, all authors completed the author disclosure form. Disclosures and/or potential conflicts of interest: Employment or Leadership: None declared. Consultant or Advisory Role: G.S. Baird, Beckman Coulter. Stock Ownership: None declared. Honoraria: None declared. Research Funding: None declared. Expert Testimony: No...

Employment or Leadership: None declared. Consultant or Advisory Role: A.S. Jaffe, Beckman Coulter, Critical Diagnostics, Inverness Medical, Radiometer, Pfizer, and Amgen. Stock Ownership: None declared. Honoraria: A.S. Jaffe, Roche and Abbott Laboratories. Research Funding: A.K. Saenger, Roche Diagnostics; G.G. Klee, Beckman Coulter; A.S. Jaffe, Beckman Coulter. Expert Testimony: None declared....

Nurses from a national random sample of SANE programs were interviewed about their most recent experience providing expert witness court testimony (N = 110). Forty-three percent of the SANEs characterized this experience "fine" with no difficulties, but 58% mentioned that they had encountered problems. Challenges they faced while testifying are explored in depth and implications for forensic nu...

Recent Home Office research indicates that complainants in sexual offence cases still struggle to gain credibility in the eyes of police, prosecutors and jurors. This article examines some of the credibility barriers confronting victims of sexual offences within the criminal process. In the USA, prosecutors have utilised expert witness testimony in an effort to educate jurors and restore credib...