MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH-FALSE-MEMORY-SOCIETY - THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACCUSATIONS FOR THE FAMILIES

In a previous study, 282 members of the British False Memory Society ( BFMS) filled in a detailed questionnaire about the families involved i n sexual accusations. In the present study the 37 cases where criminal proceedings were reported as having been instigated were followed up and a supplementary questionnaire was completed about the outcome of t he cases. In 23 a defendant was charged by the police, 3 were subseque ntly discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service, 20 proceeded to co urt, and in 8 there was a conviction and a lengthy prison sentence. Th e involvement of the police and a subsequent conviction in court were significantly associated with the absence of alleged recovered memorie s concerning the childhood sexual abuse. The author concludes that the police, lawyers, judges and jurors appear reluctant to accept the tes timony of accusers who claim recovered memories of sexual abuse and th at such cases are less likely to reach court.