@article{ref1,
title="How Long to Prosecute Child Sexual Abuse for a Community Using a Children's Advocacy Center and Two Comparison Communities?",
journal="Child maltreatment",
year="2008",
author="Walsh, Wendy A. and Lippert, Tonya and Cross, Theodore P. and Maurice, Danielle M. and Davison, K. Shawn",
volume="13",
number="1",
pages="3-13",
abstract="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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1077-5595",
doi="10.1177/1077559507307839",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1077559507307839"
}