Innocence Legal Team Blog

In criminal courts across the United States, expert witnesses and prosecutors have occasionally used Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS) to explain a complainant’s behavior following an alleged sexual assault. While originally developed to help clinicians understand the psychological effects of trauma, RTS ...

For decades, shaken baby syndrome (SBS) was considered undeniable proof of child abuse. Doctors, prosecutors, and juries across the United States accepted the theory as fact, believing that certain internal injuries in infants could only result from violent shaking. However, new research and case ...

For decades, Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome (CSAAS) has shaped how courts and therapists interpret children’s behavior in abuse cases. Originally introduced to help professionals understand why victims might delay or deny abuse, it was never meant to prove guilt. Yet, over time, it ...

Your loved one has been accused of a sex crime in California, and now you're doing everything you can to help. But what you say, do, or even text could affect the outcome of their case.

You've been falsely accused of a sex crime. It doesn't matter that it's not true. One accusation can upend your life.

You never thought you'd be in this position.

You’ve been accused of sexual assault, or have reason to fear you soon will be. You’re shocked. Panicked. Unsure who to trust.

You’ve been accused of a sex crime, and now you’re scrambling to figure out how to afford a lawyer. You’ve heard quotes all over the map, from a public defender for free to tens of thousands of dollars for a private defense team. So you’re wondering: how much does a sexual assault lawyer actually ...

If you’ve been accused of a sex crime, you’re probably terrified, and you should be. California prosecutors take these cases seriously. And if you wait too long or hire the wrong lawyer, the system will move forward without your side of the story.

You never thought it could happen to you. But now, someone has accused you of sexual assault. Your world is upside down. You haven’t been arrested (yet), but you know the clock may be ticking.

You trusted your lawyer to fight for your life. But now… they’ve all but disappeared. They won’t answer your calls. They’re not updating your family. You’re left in the dark at the worst possible time. So what do you do when your lawyer stops communicating with you?

You’re scared, overwhelmed, and your attorney keeps saying the same thing: “Just take the deal.” But something doesn't feel right.

You’ve put your future in the hands of an attorney, and now you’re wondering if that was a mistake. They’re not returning calls. They haven’t investigated your case. You’re facing serious charges, and it feels like they’re just waiting for you to take a plea deal. So you’re asking the question: Can ...

The Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Movement: Good Intentions, Flawed Methods The modern system of investigating child sexual abuse has its roots in Senator Walter Mondale's 1973 hearings, which led to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974. While this legislation undoubtedly helped ...

Being accused of a sex crime in California is a nightmare, one that can destroy your life before you ever set foot in a courtroom.

If you have just been convicted of a sex crime, is there any hope? The answer is yes. Generally, there are three post-conviction relief procedures:

A false sex crime charge and an attorney without a winning strategy. You may be asking yourself, what else can go wrong? Without an effective strategy (a compelling theory of your case) there is no path to victory. But I’m innocent, you tell yourself. I’m entitled to the presumption of innocence, ...

Patrick Clancy is the Founder of the Innocence Legal Team, California’s preeminent sex crime defense law firm. With over four decades of experience in defending those wrongfully accused of Sex Crimes, Patrick Ewing Clancy is the nation’s foremost authority on sex crime justice in America, or ...

The Right Time is Now You hear from a friend or relative that someone is accusing you of sexual misconduct. Wait a minute you tell yourself, that was over twenty years ago. Or maybe you say to yourself, I know I am innocent, and I am sure that the truth will come out and I will not be harmed. ...

According to the California Department of Justice, over 40,000 sex crimes were reported in the state in 2022.

DID YOU HIRE THE WRONG ATTORNEY? You are charged with a serious criminal offense such as a sex crime. If that isn’t bad enough, it now seems like you may have made a serious mistake in choosing your defense attorney. The attorney was full of fight and passion for your innocence right up to the ...

Introduction Being accused of a sex crime can be a devastating experience, leading to emotional distress, social stigmatization, and severe legal penalties if convicted. In such a scenario, a sex crime attorney becomes a critical ally, employing specialized legal expertise to safeguard the client's ...