Innocence Legal Team Blog

Understanding sexual assault vs sexual abuse is essential for anyone facing allegations, supporting someone involved in a case, or seeking clarity about how these charges are defined under the law. Although these terms are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, they refer to distinct ...

When someone is accused of harming a child, few pieces of evidence carry as much weight—or create as much confusion—as the medical evaluation of broken bones. In many sex crime cases, a fracture is interpreted as supporting evidence of abuse even when the science behind pediatric injuries is far ...

Medical sex examinations, often conducted as part of an alleged abuse investigation, refer to the physical and medical evaluation performed by qualified healthcare or forensic professionals. The intention is to assess signs of possible sexual abuse, document injuries or evidence, and collect ...

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.