Forensic psychological examination of reliability of testimony in cases of sexual abuse of minors in Germany

In Germany in the 90s took place a number of sexual abuse trials with minor victims, which caused a wide public outcry and a discussion about methods for assessing credibility of testimony . The result of the analysis of the errors admitted in these trials were some measures aimed at improving the quality of forensic psychological examination of testimony . In 1999 the Federal Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Germany adopted the decision No . BGH 1 Str 618/98, in which it formulated the basic requirements for this kind of forensic psychological examination and recognized Statement Validity Assessment (SVA) as its only methodical basis . SVA remains also today the only approach to assessment of credibility of testimony recognized by courts and psychological experts in Germany . The article discusses the Worms, Montessori and Nordhorn cases, their potential causes and the place of SVA in assessing reliability of testimony . Investigative authorities and courts in Russia also have to assess reliability of testimony given by minor victims of sexual abuse, so the study of German experience of forensic psychological examination of reliability of testimony including the bad one of cases in the 90s is of practical interest .