Abstract

The main objective of this study was to examine which factors regarding children’s testimony, at Barnahús in Iceland, influence prosecution and conviction of alleged sex offenders. The sample consisted of 542 cases of children interviewed between 1998 and 2012. Video recordings and reports of investigative interviews were analyzed by an expert interviewer, and information on prosecutions and convictions were obtained from court files. The results show that cases were more likely to be prosecuted when a child gave a detailed description of the alleged abuse. Cases were more likely to be convicted if the alleged abuse had occurred multiple times or had lasted more than a year. It is important for the judicial system to consider children’s communication and language difficulties when decisions are made. Sexual abuse cases, involving children, may be less likely to be prosecuted when children lack the ability to give detailed description of events.

摘要

本研究的主要目的是检查有关儿童证词的哪些因素，在冰岛的 Barnahús，会影响对涉嫌性犯罪者的起诉和定罪。样本包括 1998 年至 2012 年间采访的 542 名儿童案件。专家采访者分析了调查采访的录像和报告，并从法庭档案中获得了有关起诉和定罪的信息。结果表明，当儿童详细描述所指控的虐待行为时，案件更有可能被起诉。如果所谓的虐待发生多次或持续一年以上，案件更有可能被定罪。司法系统在做出决定时考虑到儿童的沟通和语言困难是很重要的。涉及儿童的性虐待案件，