PACCS Virtual Forum to Address Judicial Challenges in False Sexual Abuse Allegations During Custody Cases
The Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety is hosting a virtual research forum featuring Janette Hermann's study on judicial decision-making in false sexual abuse allegations during family court proceedings, offering critical insights for child-centered justice reform.
The Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety (PACCS) will host a virtual research forum on October 26, 2025, featuring Janette Hermann's groundbreaking research on judicial decision-making in false sexual abuse allegations during family court 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 that prioritize children's safety and wellbeing.
Hermann's study, based on interviews with South African magistrates, explores how courts can maintain child-centered approaches despite facing biases, trauma responses, and complex evidentiary challenges. The research identifies several key themes including judicial bias, conflicting expert testimony, trauma-informed procedures, and strategies to restore the child's voice within legal processes. These findings come at a crucial time when family courts worldwide face increasing scrutiny over their handling of abuse allegations in custody disputes.
"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 Janette Hermann, MSocSc, Criminal Justice Social Work. "The findings from this research serve as a reminder that justice is not only about outcomes but about the processes through which those outcomes are reached."
The virtual event represents a significant opportunity for legal professionals, social workers, and child advocates to engage with cutting-edge research that could transform family court practices. Hermann emphasizes that by adopting trauma-informed, evidence-based, and collaborative approaches, the justice system can better protect children, support families, and maintain procedural integrity. The research particularly focuses on how magistrates navigate the complex terrain of false allegations while ensuring genuine cases receive appropriate attention and children remain protected from harm.
PACCS, a practitioner-led network dedicated to reforming family court practices, is making this research accessible through their virtual platform at https://www.paccs.global. The organization connects clinicians, attorneys, researchers, and advocates to collaborate on evidence-based, child-first reforms. The October 26th event will include both presentation and discussion components, allowing participants to engage directly with the research findings and their practical applications in family court settings across different jurisdictions.
This research forum comes as family courts globally face increasing pressure to improve their handling of abuse allegations in custody cases. Hermann's work provides concrete recommendations for judicial training, procedural reforms, and interdisciplinary collaboration that could significantly impact how courts approach these sensitive cases. The study's focus on South African magistrates offers comparative insights that could inform reforms in other legal systems facing similar challenges in balancing child protection with due process considerations.