The influence of judiciary procedures on recovery by sexually abused children receiving services in a child advocacy center
Sexual abuse during childhood can be traumatic for children and their families. The criminal aspect of this form of victimization requires specialized evaluations, interventions, and, often, immediate measures to ensure the child’s protection. In some cases, these lead to legal procedures. Although our knowledge regarding the consequences of child sexual abuse and effective therapeutic interventions continues to increase, we know little of the impact of legal procedures on these children’s rehabilitation. This study examines the various judiciary trajectories followed by sexually abused children and their influence on the mental health of children receiving therapeutic services in a Child Advocacy Center (CAC). Results show that about a third of the children (28 %) were involved in legal actions, sometimes including a court appearance, usually before therapy began. Our findings indicate that in some circumstances legal activities had beneficial effects on the children’s mental health. We observed greater therapeutic gains in children who testified in court and in children for whom legal procedures were undertaken than in children for whom no legal actions were taken. These initial findings underline the need for better documentation of the judicial component of such children’s experience and can help identify conditions that facilitate recovery in sexually abused children.