Having discussed at length how the law defines molestation, and how that charge would be handled here in Michigan, we now talk about another, often less talked about aspect of this topic – false allegations of child molestation.
By definition, a false allegation is a lie. It is an accusation that a person committed acts of child sexual abuse, when in reality there was no abuse committed by the accused person. While this may sound like something out of a movie, it actually happens with surprising frequency these days.
However, as with most things in life, being aware and alert can avert a lot of unpleasant scenarios. So we provide a basic breakdown of the four most common scenarios in which false allegations of child molestation are made, so that you are fully informed.
Improperly Handled Interviews
After someone has reported to police or CPS that they suspect a child may have been abused, that child is questioned in order to determine whether or not the allegations are true. This may seem like a simple process, after all, if it didn’t happen the child will simply tell them ‘no’ and the case will go away, right? Unfortunately, no, it is rarely that simple.
When a social worker, police officer, Michigan CPS caseworker or other authority questions a child, they sometimes “suggest” the the answers they want to receive. This can be done either deliberately or accidentally. Studies have shown that children are highly suggestible, which means that the use of leading questions, or faulty interviewing techniques, can easily result in a child giving a false testimony.
This usually doesn’t happen out of a desire to be deceitful, but rather because children inherently want to please the adult they are with. Therefore, they tend to provide the answers that they think will make that adult happy. This means that a child’s renditions of events can easily become distorted, as they seek to please the interviewer with the answers that they think will please them.
Simple Mistakes and Misunderstandings
Because of the heightened public awareness of child sexual abuse throughout Michigan, and the number of high profile cases of abuse in the media, people are far more aware of the reality of child abuse now that they used to be. While this is a good thing, it also means that people are now afraid of NOT reporting something that may be abuse. As a result, there are far more instances of false reports made by people who misunderstand an innocent statement made by a child. In fact, certain people are requested by law to report their reasonable suspicion of child abuse to the authorities. These “mandated reporters” include teachers, doctors, nurses, mental health professionals and police officers. If a mandated reporter in Michigan fails to report as required, they face posible criminal charges.
For example, a statement like “my daddy hurt me and I don’t like it” could be a reference to child molestation. Or it could be a reference to a situation where the child was spanked for doing something dangerous, and the consequences are still fresh in their mind. Another example could be something like “My mommy took a naked picture of me.” This could mean that something illegal and abusive happened to that child, or it could mean that their mother took a funny picture of them in the tub.
Unfortunately, because we live in a time when people would rather err on the side of caution, a vast number of completely innocent parents and caregivers are reported for abusing their children. People who believe themselves to be “authorities” on the subject of molestation can sometimes make assumptions and guesses about a child’s life based on a passing comment, and then report a sex crime or child being molested that never happened.
Join us next time as we look at the other two more common scenarios in which false allegations of child molestation tend to occur. We understand that this isn’t a comfortable or enjoyable subject to talk about, but being informed is your first step towards keeping yourself, and your children, safe from false allegations.