Child Abuse - False Reports Do Happen, What You Should Do If Accused
Today's high profile cases of crimes against children have resulted in a hyper vigilance in the community against child abuse. Although this is a positive step in our society, it can create a state of heightened anxiety with resulting false accusations.
Those accused of child molestation, abuse or sexual assault crimes are despised, ostracized and/or shunned by society--whether or not the accusation is false. The mere mention or suspicion of child molestation or sexual assault crimes are enough to have someone forced out of their community or expelled from his/her profession. A conviction could mean a lifetime registration as a child sex offender.
It is illegal for anyone to file a false report of child abuse, but regrettably, it happens every day. Even though more than half of reported abuse cases are false, this offense has the highest conviction rate of all felony crimes. The law is written to protect children first, so even though you may be completely innocent, you will need to defend yourself.
If you get caught in this nightmare, even though you are completely innocent, the first step you must take no matter how painful is to acknowledge the seriousness of the charges. If you feel you do not need to worry because no one could possibly have a case against you, you are putting yourself at risk. It is startling how fast these situations can spin out of control. The consequences for a conviction for this crime can be permanent, so it is crucial to protect yourself and your children immediately.
You need to find a lawyer experienced with these types of charges. Don't speak to any officials except your attorney about the case. Even if you have not been officially charged, you need to be prepared in case you are eventually arrested.
If you have been falsely accused or suspected of child abuse or molestation, or you're being investigated or charged formally of a crime against children, it is critically important to entrust your case to an experienced attorney who understands the law and how to defend these types of cases.
Whatever you do, do not attempt to handle this matter on your own or with advice from family members. If you have been contacted by the police for an interview, do NOT speak to them unless your attorney is present. Anything you say to the police can and will be used against you.
