Assessment of Use of Medical Forensic Evidence in Investigation and Prosecution Process of Defilement Perpetrators, A Case Study of Ruiru Sub-County, Kenya
Date
2023Author
Kariuki, Peterson
Muchemi, Rose Waruguru
Kariuki, John
Thaimuta, Zakayo
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Background: Defilement has been recognized as one of the crimes in which such a ceiling in
evidential presentation is critical. According to WHO statistics, More than 95 million children are
abused annually, Where Africa is the most affected continent. Defilement incidences are alarming
globally, regionally, and locally. There are new cases of defilement reported every week with 83 %
emanating from a well-known perpetrator to the survivor. Objective: The study aimed to assess the use of medical forensic evidence in the investigation and
prosecution process of defilement perpetrators, A case study of Ruiru Sub-County, Kenya.
Method: Research was conducted using an analytical cross-sectional approach. Sixty-six
participants in the study were chosen using a stratified random sampling technique. The techniques
used to collect the data were both qualitative and quantitative. The strength of the relationship
between the dependent and independent variables was assessed using the Pearson correlation.
The threshold for statistical significance was set at 0.05.
Results: There was a significant correlation between Compliant with set standards against
investigation and the prosecution of defilement incidences(p=.005). There was a significant
Correlation between the Availability of forensic tools against investigation and the prosecution of
defilement incidents(p=.000). Concerning the correlation between knowledge of the guardians
against investigation and prosecution of defilement Incidents there was no significant
association(p=.630).
Conclusion: From this research, compliance with set standards and procedures for evidence
admissibility of defilement evidence was adequate. Study respondents had good knowledge of the
use of medical forensic evidence during the investigation and prosecution of defilement incidences.
The study concluded that most of the facilities and officers are not equipped with materials for the
collection of evidence.
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