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31 - What is delayed disclosure and how does it affect my sex case?
Delayed disclosure refers to a term of art used by psychologists and other experts in sex crimes cases to explain why the victim of a sex crime did not immediately report the sexual abuse to a parental figure or other authority figure. Although you might expect delayed disclosure to help your case, often times the opposite is true. This is because the state has a number of expert witnesses that they can, and will, call at trial to explain why the victim delayed in disclosing the offense. These experts are often so qualified that they not only explain away any “bad facts” that hurt the state’s case against you, but they also strengthen the state’s case through their testimony. Delayed disclosure is a significant legal issue that requires the expertise of an experienced criminal defense attorney who specializes in sex crimes to adequately combat the state’s expert witnesses.