NCJ Number
162226
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1996) Pages: 402-422
Date Published
1996
Length
21 pages
Annotation
The past decade has witnessed significant reforms of the legal system in many countries to accommodate child witnesses, and the impetus for change has come primarily from judges, lawyers, and mental health and medical professionals.
Abstract
Reforms have occurred in the areas of investigative interviewing, preparing children to testify, the admissibility of children's hearsay statements, the competence of children to testify in court, and altering the courtroom to accommodate child witnesses. Reforms have also focused on judicial control of court proceedings and questioning, support persons for child witnesses, the exclusion of witnesses during a child's testimony, closing the courtroom to the public and the press, video link technology and other modifications that affect the accused's right to confront the child witness, counsel or guardian ad litem for child witnesses, the corroboration requirement, and jury instructions regarding child witnesses. Psychological research has also contributed to the reform movement. Despite the pull of tradition and the fact that many judges and lawyers are reluctant to alter traditional courtroom practices, impressive gains have been made to accommodate children in court. 88 references