NCJ Number
185171
Date Published
2000
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This book is designed to assist elementary school aged child victims and witnesses who may have to testify in court in criminal proceedings and to help children realize going to court can be a positive experience.
Abstract
Experience has shown that children can be excellent courtroom witnesses if they are properly prepared to testify. Enabling children to relate to their experiences of abuse in court is an important step in the child's healing process following abuse and the best assurance that the child will be protected and the abuser will be brought to justice. Children are often apprehensive about testing in court, but they can be empowered by the experience when they know what to expect and have been prepared for the experience. The book contains an introduction for parents so that parents can help their children read one chapter at a time. Book chapters focus on what happens in court and why children have to be there, court personnel, what will happen to children in court, questions that will be asked in court, and what will happen once children are done with court. 6 illustrations