Seems to be a 'burden of proof' issue?
It appears criminal proceedings where dropped, so they are trying their own civil proceedings instead.
I understand that for criminal cases you need to show something is “beyond a reasonable doubt,” while in civil cases you only need to show that something is more likely to be true than untrue.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20141001/NEWS03/710019905
[The girls mother, Marina] Mauvoleon-Folsom said the alleged sexual abuse was reported by a
therapist to the state in September 1996. The girls were interviewed,
she said, and the case involved what is now the Department for Children
and Families and investigators from the Vermont State Police in
Rockingham.
The allegations were substantiated by the state at
one time, but the decision was reversed shortly after, according to
Mauvoleon-Folsom.
Zalkin said such cases often do not end up involving criminal charges.
“These
cases are very difficult with young children, when young children are
making the allegations,” he said. “Corroboration is always the
challenge. It’s not uncommon for law enforcement to not pursue these
cases vigorously. They’re just tough cases for them. They have a high
standard, a high burden of proof. It’s very different than the civil
cases.”
