Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 16, 2025
PACCS Event: Child-Centered Justice in False Abuse Allegation Cases
TLDR
- PACCS offers professionals exclusive training and leadership opportunities to gain expertise in child-centered justice reform, enhancing their competitive edge in family court practices.
- Janette Hermann's research examines judicial decision-making processes, trauma-informed procedures, and evidence-based strategies for handling false sexual abuse allegations in custody cases.
- This child-centered approach ensures children's voices are heard and protected, creating justice systems that prioritize safety and healing for vulnerable young individuals.
- Discover groundbreaking research on how South African magistrates navigate complex custody cases while keeping children at the center of judicial decisions.
Impact - Why it Matters
This research addresses a critical gap in family court systems where false sexual abuse allegations can cause lasting trauma to children and families. When courts fail to properly handle these complex cases, children may be subjected to prolonged legal battles, inappropriate placements, or continued exposure to unsafe environments. The findings provide judges and legal professionals with evidence-based strategies to maintain child-centered approaches despite biases and conflicting evidence. For families navigating custody disputes, this research offers hope for more trauma-informed procedures that prioritize children's wellbeing over adversarial legal tactics. The practical recommendations could significantly improve how courts protect vulnerable children while ensuring fair processes for all parties involved.
Summary
The Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety (PACCS) is hosting a groundbreaking online event featuring Janette Hermann, MSocSc, who will present her crucial research on judicial decision-making in false sexual abuse allegations during custody cases. Titled "Judicial Decision-Making in False Sexual Abuse Allegations: Placing the Child at the Centre of Justice," this virtual presentation on October 26, 2025, at 5:00 PM EDT promises to deliver vital insights into how courts can maintain child-centered approaches despite facing complex challenges like judicial bias, conflicting expert evidence, and trauma-informed procedures. Hermann's research, conducted through interviews with South African magistrates, specifically examines strategies to restore the child's voice in legal processes and ensure that justice systems prioritize children's safety and wellbeing above all else.
As a registered Social Worker and Forensic Practitioner at the Trauma-Informed and Child-Centred Private Practice, Hermann brings extensive expertise in forensic child abuse assessments and trauma-informed interventions. Her work at the Teddy Bear Foundation and National Centre for Child Protection in South Africa, combined with her academic research at the University of Cape Town, positions her as a leading voice in child protection reform. She emphasizes that "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." The session will provide concrete recommendations for creating systems that protect children while supporting families and upholding judicial integrity.
PACCS, a 501(c)(3) practitioner-led network dedicated to reforming family court practices, is actively recruiting professionals through their Zoom Meeting Registration platform to join this important discussion and become part of their growing community. The organization offers founding members prioritized access to exclusive trainings, research insights, leadership opportunities, and innovative networking tools through their Membership Circle App. By joining the PACCS Community, practitioners, advocates, and professionals can contribute to shaping family court reforms that prioritize children's safety and promote healing through evidence-based, child-first approaches that transform how courts handle these sensitive cases.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by Newsworthy.ai. Read the original source here, PACCS Event: Child-Centered Justice in False Abuse Allegation Cases
