Assessing Victim Credibility in CSA Trials: Which Credibility Dimensions Most Influence Belief and Verdict?

• In Event: The Impact of Victimization on Punishment and Sentencing

Abstract

Background: Establishing victim credibility in child sexual abuse (CSA) trials is essential, as children’s testimony may be the only evidence prosecutors present. Attorneys assess credibility through questioning at trial, addressing honesty and suggestive influence, consistency, plausibility, and cognitive capacities (Denne et al., 2020; St. George et al., 2025). This study explores whether victim age and gender influence credibility assessments across these dimensions, and which dimension most impacts (mock) jurors’ belief in testimony and verdicts. Method: Using Prolific Academic, we administered a randomized vignette survey (varying child gender and age) to a representative sample of US adults (n = 350). We compared mock jurors’ assessment of the alleged victims’ credibility across child age and gender and evaluated the effects of credibility dimensions on belief in testimony and verdicts. Results: Neither victim age nor gender was associated with any of the credibility dimensions. All four dimensions significantly influenced belief in testimony, but only honesty/suggestive influence and plausibility affected verdicts. Implications: Jurors’ assessments of suggestive influences on, and plausibility of, children’s abuse narratives most impact belief in the child and conviction decisions. Defense attorneys can maximize credibility attacks, and prosecutors can mitigate credibility concerns, by guiding testimony that addresses these dimensions.

Authors

• Suzanne St. George, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Katelin Matusevich, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Emily Denne, Arizona State University

• Stacia Stolzenberg, Arizona State University