PACCS Virtual Event to Address Child-Centered Justice in False Abuse Allegation Cases

The Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety (PACCS) will host a virtual event featuring research by Janette Hermann, MSocSc, that addresses the complex challenges of handling false sexual abuse allegations in custody cases while maintaining child-centered justice. The session, titled "Judicial Decision-Making in False Sexual Abuse Allegations: Placing the Child at the Centre of Justice," examines how courts can prioritize children's wellbeing despite biases, trauma, and conflicting evidence in family court proceedings.

Hermann's research, conducted through interviews with South African magistrates, identifies several critical themes affecting judicial decision-making, including judicial bias, conflicting expert evidence, and the need for trauma-informed procedures. The study emphasizes strategies to restore the child's voice in legal processes, ensuring that children's rights remain protected during complex family court cases. Hermann stated, "Forensic social work plays a vital role in this process: bridging the gap between psychological truth and legal evidence, ensuring that every voice, especially that of the child, is both heard and protected."

The research findings highlight that justice involves not only outcomes but the processes through which those outcomes are reached. Hermann emphasized that adopting trauma-informed, evidence-based, and collaborative approaches can create systems that protect children, support families, and uphold justice integrity. Her academic work at the University of Cape Town specifically focused on judicial decision-making in false sexual abuse allegations, providing valuable insights for legal professionals, social workers, and child advocates working in family court systems.

The virtual event, scheduled for October 26, 2025, at 5:00 PM EDT, will include both presentation and discussion components, allowing professionals to engage with the research findings and their practical applications. Registration for this important discussion is available through https://www.paccs.global. PACCS, as a 501(c)(3) practitioner-led network, focuses on reforming family court practices to prioritize child safety and wellbeing, connecting clinicians, attorneys, researchers, and advocates to collaborate on evidence-based, child-first reforms that address systemic challenges in child protection.