NCJ Number
161796
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report presents the methodology and findings from an evaluation of British courts' use of the Child Witness Pack, which is designed to prepare child witnesses for giving evidence.
Abstract
The Pack consists of one booklet for 5- to 9-year-olds, one for 10- to 15-year-olds, and one for parents and guardians. The Pack is used with the assistance and support of an independent adult who answers the child's questions and communicates the child's needs to the prosecution and court. The evaluation of the Pack and its use was conducted between April 1994 and May 1995. The evaluation's objectives were to obtain a wide range of views about the Pack; to discover the extent to which it is used to prepared child witnesses; and to discover more about the characteristics, functions, and training of the independent adult who is responsible for preparing the child for court. With few exceptions, children, guardians, independent adults, police officers, and barristers liked the Child Witness Pack and viewed the materials as very useful. Among respondents' suggestions for improvements to the Pack are the addition of extra sections, materials for adolescents in a more adult style, information about magistrates' courts and youth courts, advice for parents/guardians about the segregation of witnesses, and detailed guidance on how to use the Pack. Suggestions for national guidelines on the use of the Pack are provided in the concluding section of this report. 3 references