NCJ Number
174311
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: April 1998 Pages: 165-203
Date Published
1998
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This article examines effects of closed-circuit technology on children's testimony and jurorsþ perceptions of child witnesses.
Abstract
Eighty-five 5- to-6-year-olds and 101 8- to 9-year-old children individually participated in play sessions of mock trials with an unfamiliar male confederate. Approximately 2 weeks later, children individually testified about the events at a city courtroom. Mock juries composed of community recruits viewed the trials, with the children's testimony presented either live in open court or over closed-circuit television. Overall, older children were more accurate witnesses. However, older children also produced more inaccurate information in free recall. Use of closed-circuit technology led to decreased suggestibility for younger children. Testifying in open court was associated with children experiencing more pretrial anxiety. Closed-circuit technology did not diminish factfinders' abilities to discriminate accurate from inaccurate child testimony, and did not directly bias jurors against the defendant. However, closed-circuit testimony did bias jurors against child witnesses. Jurors tended to base their impressions of witness credibility on perceived confidence and consistency. Figures, notes, tables, references