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Abstract: 

The public’s interest in determining the credibility of sexual assault reports has markedly increased as news reports have shifted from stranger assailants to known assailants. With that interest has come more discussion, news articles, and papers on the prevalence of false allegations of reported sexual assault. Information and debate on false allegations have routinely used victim recantations as an indication of a false allegation. Additionally, the term “unfounded” has been used synonymously with “false allegation” and “recantation,” further blurring these three very distinct topics. This position paper was developed in order to clarify and distinguish victim recantations, false allegations, and case unfounding so that every victim of sexual assault in Oregon receives a consistent, professional, and knowledgeable response.

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Affiliations:  1: Criminal Justice Committee.