Thomas D. Lyon, J.D., Ph.D., is a professor of Law and Psychology at the University
of Southern California. His research interests include child abuse and neglect, child
witnesses, and domestic violence. He is the Past-President of the American Psychological
Association’s Section on Child Maltreatment (Division 37) and a former member of the
Board of Directors of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. He has
published over 30 papers in law reviews, psychology journals, and books, has authored or
co-authored over 50 research presentations at psychology and law conferences, and has
conducted over 100 trainings with judges, attorneys, law professors, social workers,
psychologists, and reporters. His work has been supported by the National Institutes of
Health, the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Justice, the
National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, the California Endowment, and the Haynes
Foundation.

A. Publications in Law Reviews

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7. Lyon, T.D., & LaMagna, R. (2007). The history of children’s hearsay: From Old Bailey to post-Davis. Indiana Law Journal, 82, 1029-1058., published (2007)

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6. Lyon, T.D. (2002). Applying suggestibility research to the real world: The case of repeated questions. Law & Contemporary Problems, 65, 97-126., published (2002)

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5. Lyon, T.D. (2000). Child witnesses and the oath: empirical evidence. University of Southern California Law Review, 733,1017-1074., published (2000)

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4. Lyon, T.D. (1999). The new wave of suggestibility research: A critique. Cornell Law Review, 84, 1004-1087., published (1999)

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3. Lyon, T.D., & Koehler, J.J. (1996). The relevance ratio: Evaluating the probative value of expert testimony in child sexual abuse cases. Cornell Law Review, 82, 43-78., published (1996)

B. Publications in Peer-reviewed Journals

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17. Quas, J.A., Wallin, A.R., Horwitz, B., Davis, E., & Lyon, T.D. (in press). Maltreated children’s understanding of and emotional reactions to dependency court involvement. Behavioral Sciences & the Law., to be published (2008)

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16. Lyon, T.D., Malloy, L.C., Quas, J.A., & Talwar, V. (in press). Coaching, truth Induction, and young maltreated children’s false allegations and false denials., to be published (2008)

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15. Lyon, T.D., & Dorado, J.S. (in press). Truth induction in young maltreated children: The effects of oath-taking and reassurance on true and false disclosures.Child Abuse & Neglect. , to be published (2007)

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14. Malloy, L.C., Lyon, T.D., & Quas, J.A. (2007). Filial dependency and recantation of child sexual abuse allegations. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 46, 162-170., published (2007)

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13. Lyon, T.D., & Saywitz, K.J. (2006). From post-mortem to preventive medicine: Next steps for research on child witnesses. Journal of Social Issues, 62, 833-861., published (2006)

C. Publications in Books

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10. Lyon, T.D. (2007). False denials: Overcoming methodological biases in abuse disclosure research. In M.E. Pipe, M. E. Lamb, Y. Orbach, and A.C. Cederborg (Eds.), Disclosing abuse: Delays, denials, retractions and incomplete accounts (pp. 41-62). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum., published (2007)

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9. Lyon, T.D., & Mechanic, M.D. (2006). Domestic violence and child protection: Confronting the dilemmas in moving from family court to dependency court. In N.E. Dowd, D.G. Singer, & R.F. Wilson (Eds.), Handbook of children, culture, and violence (pp. 21-38). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage., published (2006)

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8. Lyon, T.D. (2005). Speaking with children: Advice from investigative interviewers In P.F. Talley (Ed.), Handbook for the treatment of abused and neglected children (pp. 65-82). Binghamton, NY: Haworth. (reprinted in Lyon, T.D. (2005). Child development, competence, and credibility: The latest research. In A.G. Donnelly (Ed.), State of the Art Advocacy for Children, Youth, and Families (pp. 29-44). Denver, CO: National Association of Counsel for Children.), published (2005)

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7. Lyon, T.D. (2002). Expert testimony on the suggestibility of children: Does it fit? In Bottoms, B.L., Kovera, M.B., & McAuliff, B.D. (Eds.), Children, social science, and the law (pp. 378-411). New York: Cambridge., published (2002)

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6. Lyon, T.D. (2002). Child witnesses and the oath. In Westcott, H.L., Davies, G.M., & Bull, R.H.C. (Eds.), Children's testimony: A handbook of psychological research and forensic practice (pp. 245-260). West Sussex, U.K.: Wiley., published (2002)

D. Contribution to Amicus Briefs

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3. National Association of Counsel for Children and American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children in Support of Respondent, Giles v. California (2008) (2008)

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2. National Association of Counsel for Children in Support of Respondents. Adrian Martell Davis v. Washington, Hershel Hammon v. Indiana (2007)., published (2007)

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1. American Psychological Association, National Association of Counsel for Children, American Professional Society on the Abuse of CHildren, and California Professional Society on the Abuse of Children in Support of Respondent. Marion R. Stogner v. California (2003)., published (2003)

E. Practioner Guides

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3. Lyon,T.D., & Matthews, M. (2006). Model Brief. Questioning of Child Witnesses., created (2006)

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2. Lyon, T.D. (2005) Ten step investigative interview., created (2005)

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1. Lyon, T.D., & Saywitz, K.J. (2000). Qualifying Children to Take the Oath: Materials for Interviewing Professionals., created (2000)

F. Short Pieces

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7. Lyon, T.D. (2004, Spring). The Supreme Court and reluctant witnesses: Crawford v. Washington. Section on Child Maltreatment Newsletter, Division 37, American Psychological Association, 9(1), 1-2., Published (2004)

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6. Lyon, T.D. (2004, Winter). Educating the public through the Michael Jackson case. Section on Child Maltreatment Newsletter, Division 37, American Psychological Association, 8(3), 10-11., Published (2004)

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5. Lyon, T.D. (2002, Winter). Support persons and the child witness. Section on Child Maltreatment Newsletter, Division 37, American Psychological Association, 6(3), 5., Published (2002)

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4. Lyon, T.D. (2001, Fall). Let’s not exaggerate the suggestibility of children. Court Review, 38, 12-14., published (2001)

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3. Lyon, T.D. (1996, Fall). The effect of threats on children’s disclosure of sexual abuse. APSAC Advisor, 9, 9-15., published (1996)

G. Book Reviews

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1. Lyon, T.D. (1996). The law and psychology of the child witness. (Book review of L.S. McGough (1994). Child witnesses: Fragile voices in the American legal system). Contemporary Psychology, 41, 701-702., published (1996)

Selected Works of Thomas D. Lyon

Thomas D. Lyon

University of Southern California Law

Expertise

Honors & Awards

Links

A. Publications in Law Reviews

7. Lyon, T.D., & LaMagna, R. (2007). The history of children’s hearsay: From Old Bailey to post-Davis. Indiana Law Journal, 82, 1029-1058., published (2007)

6. Lyon, T.D. (2002). Applying suggestibility research to the real world: The case of repeated questions. Law & Contemporary Problems, 65, 97-126., published (2002)

5. Lyon, T.D. (2000). Child witnesses and the oath: empirical evidence. University of Southern California Law Review, 733,1017-1074., published (2000)

4. Lyon, T.D. (1999). The new wave of suggestibility research: A critique. Cornell Law Review, 84, 1004-1087., published (1999)

3. Lyon, T.D., & Koehler, J.J. (1996). The relevance ratio: Evaluating the probative value of expert testimony in child sexual abuse cases. Cornell Law Review, 82, 43-78., published (1996)

B. Publications in Peer-reviewed Journals

17. Quas, J.A., Wallin, A.R., Horwitz, B., Davis, E., & Lyon, T.D. (in press). Maltreated children’s understanding of and emotional reactions to dependency court involvement. Behavioral Sciences & the Law., to be published (2008)

16. Lyon, T.D., Malloy, L.C., Quas, J.A., & Talwar, V. (in press). Coaching, truth Induction, and young maltreated children’s false allegations and false denials., to be published (2008)

15. Lyon, T.D., & Dorado, J.S. (in press). Truth induction in young maltreated children: The effects of oath-taking and reassurance on true and false disclosures.Child Abuse & Neglect. , to be published (2007)

14. Malloy, L.C., Lyon, T.D., & Quas, J.A. (2007). Filial dependency and recantation of child sexual abuse allegations. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 46, 162-170., published (2007)

13. Lyon, T.D., & Saywitz, K.J. (2006). From post-mortem to preventive medicine: Next steps for research on child witnesses. Journal of Social Issues, 62, 833-861., published (2006)

C. Publications in Books

10. Lyon, T.D. (2007). False denials: Overcoming methodological biases in abuse disclosure research. In M.E. Pipe, M. E. Lamb, Y. Orbach, and A.C. Cederborg (Eds.), Disclosing abuse: Delays, denials, retractions and incomplete accounts (pp. 41-62). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum., published (2007)

7. Lyon, T.D. (2002). Expert testimony on the suggestibility of children: Does it fit? In Bottoms, B.L., Kovera, M.B., & McAuliff, B.D. (Eds.), Children, social science, and the law (pp. 378-411). New York: Cambridge., published (2002)

6. Lyon, T.D. (2002). Child witnesses and the oath. In Westcott, H.L., Davies, G.M., & Bull, R.H.C. (Eds.), Children's testimony: A handbook of psychological research and forensic practice (pp. 245-260). West Sussex, U.K.: Wiley., published (2002)

D. Contribution to Amicus Briefs

3. National Association of Counsel for Children and American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children in Support of Respondent, Giles v. California (2008) (2008)

2. National Association of Counsel for Children in Support of Respondents. Adrian Martell Davis v. Washington, Hershel Hammon v. Indiana (2007)., published (2007)

1. American Psychological Association, National Association of Counsel for Children, American Professional Society on the Abuse of CHildren, and California Professional Society on the Abuse of Children in Support of Respondent. Marion R. Stogner v. California (2003)., published (2003)

E. Practioner Guides

3. Lyon,T.D., & Matthews, M. (2006). Model Brief. Questioning of Child Witnesses., created (2006)

2. Lyon, T.D. (2005) Ten step investigative interview., created (2005)

1. Lyon, T.D., & Saywitz, K.J. (2000). Qualifying Children to Take the Oath: Materials for Interviewing Professionals., created (2000)

F. Short Pieces

7. Lyon, T.D. (2004, Spring). The Supreme Court and reluctant witnesses: Crawford v. Washington. Section on Child Maltreatment Newsletter, Division 37, American Psychological Association, 9(1), 1-2., Published (2004)

6. Lyon, T.D. (2004, Winter). Educating the public through the Michael Jackson case. Section on Child Maltreatment Newsletter, Division 37, American Psychological Association, 8(3), 10-11., Published (2004)

5. Lyon, T.D. (2002, Winter). Support persons and the child witness. Section on Child Maltreatment Newsletter, Division 37, American Psychological Association, 6(3), 5., Published (2002)

4. Lyon, T.D. (2001, Fall). Let’s not exaggerate the suggestibility of children. Court Review, 38, 12-14., published (2001)

3. Lyon, T.D. (1996, Fall). The effect of threats on children’s disclosure of sexual abuse. APSAC Advisor, 9, 9-15., published (1996)

G. Book Reviews

1. Lyon, T.D. (1996). The law and psychology of the child witness. (Book review of L.S. McGough (1994). Child witnesses: Fragile voices in the American legal system). Contemporary Psychology, 41, 701-702., published (1996)