{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,18]],"date-time":"2026-07-18T18:02:52Z","timestamp":1784397772197,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,18]],"date-time":"2026-07-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784332800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,18]],"date-time":"2026-07-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784332800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Behavioral Sci &amp; The Law"],"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    Child sexual abuse (CSA) cases rely on attorneys, judges, and jurors having an accurate understanding of complex abuse dynamics, including sexual grooming. While sexual grooming is widely used in research and legal contexts, little is known about how attorneys understand and use the construct. This study examined attorneys' knowledge, perceptions, and utilization of sexual grooming in CSA cases. Fifty\u2010one attorneys from 23 U.S. states completed an online survey. Attorneys viewed sexual grooming as useful (\n                    <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u00a0=\u00a08.82\/10), with 88% having used it in their cases. Around half (55%) used expert testimony on the topic, which they rated as highly helpful (\n                    <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u00a0=\u00a09.08\/10). Most attorneys learned about sexual grooming through professional trainings, and many expressed a need for additional expert witnesses and investigative evidence on sexual grooming. Sexual grooming is valued in CSA prosecution and thus, continued education, expert consultation, and use of current research are important.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/bsl.70080","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,18]],"date-time":"2026-07-18T17:11:07Z","timestamp":1784394667000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Use of Sexual Grooming by Attorneys in Court"],"prefix":"10.1002","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3907-9233","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Georgia M.","family":"Winters","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling Fairleigh Dickinson University  Teaneck New Jersey USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4870-2269","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elizabeth L.","family":"Jeglic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology John Jay College of Criminal Justice  New York New York USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Samantha","family":"Matthews","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling Fairleigh Dickinson University  Teaneck New Jersey USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_13_2_1","unstructured":"American Bar Association.2015.Understanding Sexual Grooming in Child Cases.https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/groups\/public_interest\/child_law\/resources\/child_law_practiceonline\/child_law_practice\/vol\u201034\/november\u20102015\/understanding\u2010sexual\u2010grooming\u2010in\u2010child\u2010abuse\u2010cases\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_3_1","unstructured":"American Bar Association.2024a.Demographics.https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/news\/profile\u2010legal\u2010profession\/demographics\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_4_1","unstructured":"American Bar Association.2024b.Profile of the Legal Profession 2024: Demographics.https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/news\/profile\u2010legal\u2010profession\/demographics\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/10538712.2014.960632"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.an.13.100184.002431"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_7_1","unstructured":"Block M.2022.Accusations of \u2018Grooming\u2019 Are the Latest Political Attack\u2014With Homophobic Origins.https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/05\/11\/1096623939\/accusations\u2010grooming\u2010political\u2010attack\u2010homophobic\u2010origins."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_8_1","volume-title":"The Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse: A Partnership to Improve Outcomes: Final Summary Overview","author":"Block S. D.","year":"2019"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13218719.2018.1473175"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13552600601069414"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/08862605221093679"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/bsl.2637"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0886260517742060"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_14_1","article-title":"In Plain View: How Child Molesters Get Away With It","author":"Gladwell M.","year":"2012","journal-title":"New Yorker"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_15_1","article-title":"Larry Nassar Sexual Abuse Scandal: Dozens of Officials Have Been Ousted or Charged","author":"Hauser C.","year":"2019","journal-title":"New York Times"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/24732850.2023.2177577"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.childyouth.2025.108119"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/10538712.2024.2321275"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/1068316X.2022.2043313"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_20_1","unstructured":"Legal Information Institute.Rule 404. Character Evidence; Other Crimes Wrongs or Acts.https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/rules\/fre\/rule_404."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/09658219791725732"},{"issue":"7","key":"e_1_2_13_22_1","first-page":"1","article-title":"Introducing Grooming as \u2018Other Acts\u2019 Evidence","volume":"23","author":"Manero G. D.","year":"2012","journal-title":"National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_23_1","volume-title":"Tracking Offenders\u2014The Child Victim","author":"Manson D. A.","year":"1984"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0964663906066613"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_25_1","unstructured":"Natanson H. andM.Balingit.2022.Teachers Who Mention Sexuality Are \u2018Grooming\u2019 Kids Conservatives Say.https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/education\/2022\/04\/05\/teachers\u2010groomers\u2010pedophiles\u2010dont\u2010say\u2010gay\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_26_1","unstructured":"National District Attorneys Association. n.d.Ndaa's Mission.https:\/\/www.ndaa.org\/ndaa\u2010mission."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_27_1","volume-title":"Sentencing","author":"Officers of the United States Attorneys"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_28_1","volume-title":"Because of You, I Trust No One","author":"O\u2019Neill A.","year":"2012"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_29_1","unstructured":"State of Louisiana V. Vidrine.2009.State of Louisiana v. Vidrine9 So.3d 1095."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_30_1","unstructured":"State of Oregon v.2018.State of Oregon v. Henley 422 P.3d 217 363 Or. 284."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_31_1","unstructured":"State of Washington v. Braham.1992.State of Washington v. Braham 67 Wn. App. 930."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/a0035000"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/15564886.2021.1974994"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13552600.2023.2249491"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/bsl.2492"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-07222-2","volume-title":"Sexual Grooming: Integrating Research, Practice, Prevention, and Policy","author":"Winters G. 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