NCJ Number
163667
Editor(s)
B L Bottoms,
G S Goodman
Date Published
1996
Length
314 pages
Annotation
These 14 papers examine the techniques and procedures used to accommodate child witnesses in legal system in countries around the world and the research on the effectiveness and implications of those techniques, particularly in child abuse cases.
Abstract
Individual papers discuss the latest research findings relevant to obtaining accurate information from children during a forensic investigation, the use of precourt interviewing rather than court testimony of child witnesses in the Netherlands, Germany's and Israel's use of specially trained experts to interview child witnesses and testify about the children's statement. Additional papers review research and legislative changes related to children's court appearance in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and the United States. The final papers review most of the legal reforms that have been considered worldwide, with emphasis on reforms relevant to the United States legal system, and detail India's initial experiences in establishing social and legal recognition of children's human rights and their need for legally mandated protection in a country with profound difficulties in providing even basic life necessities to children. Chapter reference lists and index