A view from the bench aggravation evidence - adding flesh to the bones of a sentencing case

Syndrome evidence is generally admissible as evidence of a specific harm caused by an accused's acts.10 Interestingly, conditions such as rape trauma syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder are generally considered directly related even though the victim may not yet have exhibited symptoms of or experienced physical, emotional or psychological harm.11 For example, in United States v. Hammer,12 an expert witness in a child molestation case testified that child victims of sexual abuse are at a higher risk of suffering long-term effects of the abuse . . . and that the [accused's] crimes put the victim at greater risk for psychological disorders in the future.