PACCS Hosts Virtual Forum on Judicial Handling of False Sexual Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases

The Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety (PACCS) will host an online event featuring Janette Hermann, MSocSc, presenting her research on handling false sexual abuse allegations in custody cases. The session, titled "Judicial Decision-Making in False Sexual Abuse Allegations: Placing the Child at the Centre of Justice," examines critical challenges and offers recommendations for child-centered justice. Hermann's study, based on interviews with South African magistrates, explores how courts can remain child-centered despite biases, trauma and complex evidence.

Key themes from the research include judicial bias, conflicting expert evidence, trauma-informed procedures and strategies to restore the child's voice in legal processes. Hermann emphasized that "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 findings serve as a reminder that justice involves not only outcomes but the processes through which those outcomes are reached.

Hermann's research demonstrates that by adopting trauma-informed, evidence-based and collaborative approaches, legal systems can better protect children, support families and uphold the integrity of the justice process. The virtual presentation will provide practical recommendations for professionals working in family court settings. The event represents PACCS's ongoing commitment to reforming family court practices to prioritize child safety and wellbeing through evidence-based, child-first reforms.

Registration for the October 26, 2025 event is available through Zoom Meeting Registration at https://zoom.us/meeting/register. PACCS continues to connect clinicians, attorneys, researchers, and advocates to collaborate on improving child protection in legal settings. Additional information about the organization's work can be found at https://www.paccs.global. The research forum aims to provide practitioners with valuable insights into creating systems that prioritize children's safety while ensuring fair judicial processes for all parties involved in custody disputes.