Compared to the number of validated claims of sexual abuse, false allegations are comprised of a very small number. However, this doesn’t tell us that we are ought to ignore it. In fact, more and more people are becoming victims of false allegations of child molestation each year. Although there will always be a greater number of those who are actually abused, the number of children fabricating their stories is also disturbingly rising.

While some falsely accused persons escape and prove the allegations as wrong, there are still others who are unfortunately convicted. The recipe for wrongful conviction is composed of several related events and scenes that have been practiced and tolerated by the criminal justice system.

Formula for Conviction

Complain from the alleged child victim – the major ingredient for conviction is the accusation coming directly from the supposed child victim. As soon as a child tells someone that she’s been abused, rest assured a public outcry will soon follow. But what if the child was actually forced to accuse someone? What if the accusation isn’t true? For the wrongly accused, the burden of proving otherwise is on his side. He has to prove to the court and to everybody else that he did not sexually abused the child. But who would believe him?

Report of the alleged abuse by anyone who is required by law to report any known case of child abuse – every citizen of this country is require to report to the proper authorities any suspicion of child abuse, be it substantiated or unsubstantiated. Since the law also protects the ones who report from counter litigation and harrassment cases, everyone, even those who have a revengeful motive against someone can easily manipulate a child and make up a child molestation story.

Biased investigation – whenever a case of child molestation or sexual abuse is filed,  certain agencies of the government like child protection offices or services conduct  an investigation. But the problem here is that these offices are created so as to protect children. Thus, their sentiment is towards the alleged child victims. What happens therefore is that even though an investigation is conducted, the outcome is always the same – the accused must be prosecuted.

Equally biased medical report – medical personnel who examine alleged child victims are also part of the child saving industry. Therefore, it is common for them to alter the results of any medical examination just to connect and link the accused to the molestation.
Syndrome evidence – the syndrome evidence is presented in trial by a child psychiatrist. It is a way of convincing the court that the child actually manifests all the emotional, physical, and behavioral signs of being sexually abused. As soon as this is presented, the falsely accused meets dead end.

The things we enumerated are a sign on how bent the justice system is when it comes to false allegations of child sexual abuse. Yes, crimes committed against children are the most inhumane and immoral, but it doesn’t mean that all accused are guilty. There are other people who have different motives in falsely accusing another person and this angle must be taken into account in court. The child saving industry has a very big influence in falsely convicting the accused. But that should not be the case. Every person still has the right to an equal and fair trial, no matter how grave and severe the crime is.