NCJ Number
188391
Date Published
2001
Length
9 pages
Annotation
These model guidelines for prosecuting crimes against children are promulgated by the International Association of Prosecutors.
Abstract
These model guidelines bring together international standards for the treatment of children and the proper standards to be observed by prosecutors. The guidelines extract from those instruments the general principles to be applied and deal in some detail with the practical issues that arise against that background. These model guidelines are intended to be a benchmark against which prosecutors and prosecuting agencies may prepare and assess their own materials and performance. Local policies and practice should comply with these guidelines as minimum standards to be achieved and preferably surpassed. The guidelines aim to implement and build upon international human rights norms and standards that address the issue of children as victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system and specifically to ensure the practical application of these standards by prosecutors. The guidelines first address general principles for prosecuting crimes against children, with attention to United Nations standards and norms. Overall, prosecutors must ensure that the rights of all child victims or witnesses are respected throughout every stage of the prosecution, including the right to be treated with appropriate compassion and dignity, the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of age, and the right to be treated as a capable witness. Other sections of the guidelines pertain to case management and training, pretrial decisions, case preparation, trial procedures, and sentencing. Other topics addressed in the guidelines are services to the child and multidisciplinary teams, international cooperation and assistance, and implementation and monitoring.