The Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety (PACCS) will host a virtual research forum featuring Janette Hermann, MSocSc, presenting her groundbreaking research on judicial handling of 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 approaches in family court systems.
Hermann's study, based on interviews with South African magistrates, explores how courts can maintain child-centered approaches despite dealing with biases, trauma responses, and complex evidentiary challenges. The research identifies several key themes including judicial bias assessment, conflicting expert testimony evaluation, trauma-informed procedural implementation, and strategies to restore the child's voice within legal processes. These findings have significant implications for family court reform efforts worldwide.
"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," said Hermann, who practices at the Trauma-Informed and Child-Centred Private Practice and works with the Teddy Bear Foundation and National Centre for Child Protection in South Africa. Her academic research at the University of Cape Town provides vital insights into safeguarding children's rights during contentious custody proceedings.
The virtual event, scheduled for October 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM EDT, represents PACCS's ongoing commitment to reforming family court practices through evidence-based approaches. Registration is available through their Zoom Meeting Registration platform. PACCS, a 501(c)(3) practitioner-led network, connects clinicians, attorneys, researchers, and advocates to collaborate on child-first reforms, offering members access to exclusive trainings, research insights, and networking opportunities through their innovative Membership Circle App.
This research forum addresses a critical gap in family court proceedings where false allegations can significantly impact child safety and family relationships. Hermann emphasizes that "justice is not only about outcomes but about the processes through which those outcomes are reached. By adopting a trauma-informed, evidence-based and collaborative approach, we can create systems that protect children, support families and uphold the integrity of the justice process." The findings have broad implications for legal professionals, child advocates, and policymakers seeking to improve family court outcomes while prioritizing child safety and wellbeing.
