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Child Maltreatment
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*Child Sexual Abuse
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How Long to Prosecute Child Sexual Abuse for a Community Using a Children's Advocacy Center and Two Comparison Communities?

Wendy A. Walsh

Crimes against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire, wendy.walsh{at}unh.edu

Tonya Lippert

CARES NW

Theodore P. Cross

RTI International

Danielle M. Maurice

Brandeis University

Karen S. Davison

University of Denver, School of Social Work

This article explores the length of time between key events in the criminal prosecution of child sexual abuse cases (charging decision, case resolution process, and total case-processing time), which previous research suggests is related to victims' recovery. The sample included 160 cases in three communities served by the Dallas County District Attorney. Most cases (69%) took at least 60 days for the charging decision, with cases investigated at the Children's Advocacy Center having a quicker time than either comparison community. Only 20% of cases had a case resolution time within the 180-day target suggested by the American Bar Association standard for felonies. Controlling for case characteristics, one of the three communities and cases with an initial arrest had a significantly quicker case resolution time. Total case processing generally took more than 2 years. Implications include the need to better monitor and shorten case resolution time.

Key Words: case resolution time • child sexual abuse • Children's Advocacy Centers • prosecution

Child Maltreatment, Vol. 13, No. 1, 3-13 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1077559507307839
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