An Archival Analysis of 326 Child Sexual Abuse Cases From the National Registry of Exonerations

Child sexual abuse cases present unique challenges for conviction and exoneration due to the typical reliance on the child's testimony as the primary source of evidence. Yet, little empirical research has examined wrongful convictions and exonerations in such cases. In this study, we analyzed the largest sample of child sexual abuse exonerations to date (N = 326), drawing on cases documented by the National Registry of Exonerations between 1989 and 2024. Descriptive results revealed several patterns unique to child sexual abuse exonerations. Unlike other types of crimes, perjury or false accusation was the most frequent contributor to wrongful convictions, while mistaken eyewitness identifications and false confessions were rare. Physical and forensic evidence were presented at many of the original trials, yet in most cases this evidence was later determined to be false or misleading. Post-conviction witness recantation was the most common factor contributing to exoneration, whereas few exonerations were based on DNA evidence or actual perpetrator identification. Case narratives highlight the influential role of family members and authorities in prompting children's false allegations. These findings provide novel insights to inform investigative, prosecutorial, and adjudicative approaches in child sexual abuse cases and reduce risk for future miscarriages of justice.