If you weren’t willing to concede what I considered a glaringly obvious moral point, I was looking for some evasion like “Well, even if an innocent was sentenced to death, death penalties are only rarely carried out.”

Returning to the topic of this thread, framing an innocent ex-spouse for child abuse can be twice as bad as abuse itself because there are often two victims: the innocent spouse suffering ruinous penalties for a crime that never happened, and the child “victim,” brainwashed by unethical or incompetent investigators with toxic garbage. The lasting harm from child abuse is rarely physical; far more often it is traumatic memories, which are just as devastating when artificially induced. Psychologists Stephen Ceci and Maggie Bruck demonstrated how easy it is to poison an innocent child’s mind:
http://www.amazon.com/Jeopardy-Courtroom-Scientific-Childrens-Testimony/dp/1557986320/

>I agree that falsely accusing someone of abusing a child should be a jailable offense. But someone should note that it is not nearly as serious as abusing a child.
[end of quote]

If a corrupt cop frames an innocent man for murder and he is executed, would you argue that the cop’s crime is “not nearly as serious as” murder? In many States, the penalties for child abuse are comparable to the penalties for murder.

I agree with you that penalties against recanters can be disastrously counterproductive, deterring a recantation and leaving the innocent to suffer. Sometimes, however, the recantation is effectively forced, coming only after competent investigation has shredded the accusation. In such cases, the mitigating claim of the recantation should count for less. (I am not sure how that standard would apply in this case.)

I agree that falsely accusing someone of abusing a child should be a jailable offense. But someone should note that it is not nearly as serious as abusing a child.

(Note: I’m not sure this woman should be jailed. We really want to encourage people who lie to come clean. If she thought she was facing a long jail sentence, wouldn’t she just keep the lie alive? It is a complicated world that does not lend itself to easy “everything would be fine if the dumb world would do it my way” answers)

There was a lawyer/prosecutor show years back where the son of a man who committed murder, lied under oath to keep his father out of jail. When the lie was revealed, the prosecutor put HIM in jail for life. I completely agreed with this happening in real life (in these type of extreme circumstances, since he admitted to it thinking he would get off with a little punishment).

I know it’s not going to help the kids if she’s in jail, but the risk should have been there all along as a deterent to committing to this lie.

The fact that this woman isn’t in jail today awaiting trial is 100% positive proof of the anti-male slant of the American justice system.

“The mother has also been ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment because of concern she may have a “delusional belief system or some other mental-health issue.” To date, she has refused to comply on the grounds she can’t find a psychiatrist willing to work with her.”

So a total nut case can falsely accuse a man of child abuse, the man potentially looks at years in the clink and social stigma forever, yet the woman does not spend 1 minute in jail. Methinks the scales of justice need some adjustment.

Yeah, I know, but it is a tempting thought.