Survey: One in 10 Falsely Accused of Abuse. Women Usually the Accusers, Men Most Often the Targets

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Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

United States Survey: One in 10 Falsely Accused of Abuse. Women Usually the Accusers, Men Most Often the Targets

WASHINGTON / February 27, 2023 – A new national survey reveals 10% of Americans report they have ever been falsely accused of domestic abuse. Recent news accounts involving high-profile personalities echo the growing problem of false allegations.

Broken down by sex, the survey found 13% of males and 8% of females were targeted by a false allegation. Asked about false allegations against “anyone you know,” 58% of respondents reported the false accuser was a female. 31% said the false accusation was made as part of a child custody dispute.

The 2023 numbers reflect an increase from 2020, when 8% of persons – 11% of males and 6% of females — reported being victimized by a false allegation (1).

False allegations represent a serious threat to families and to justice. False accusations are often used as a tactic in child alienation cases, which have been described as “sinister” and a “weapon of destruction in a family.” (2) According to the National Registry of Exonerations, false allegations and perjury are the most common contributing factor to wrongful convictions, causing 61% of such travesties of justice (3).

Targets of false allegations are beginning to fight back. In December, Amber Heard agreed to pay Johnny Depp $1 million for making defamatory and false accusations of domestic violence (4).

More recent news accounts reveal how commonplace false allegations have become:

On February 15, a Colorado judge dismissed an allegation of domestic violence against actor Armie Hammer. Hammer said he had proof that he was in a different city on the date of the alleged incident (5).
Last week, Ashley Smithline, who had accused singer Marilyn Manson of rape, retracted her claims. Smithline filed a declaration in Los Angeles Superior Court saying she had been pressured to make the accusation (6).

The survey defined domestic abuse as including domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, or other form of abuse. The 2023 survey utilized identical questions and methodologies as the 2020 survey.

Survey respondents consist of 1,266 American adults aged 18+. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (ages 18+). Fieldwork was undertaken February 22-23, 2023. The survey was conducted using an online interview administered to members of the YouGov panel of persons who have agreed to participate.

The full survey results can be viewed online (7).

A false accusation of abuse is a crime (8). The Coalition to End Domestic Violence urges prosecutors, family judges, lawmakers, and others to work to end the current epidemic of false allegations.

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