NCJ Number
153610
Date Published
Unknown
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This chapter addresses the need to capitalize on the strengths and weaknesses of juvenile witnesses, particularly those testifying in abuse cases, and to create an optimal environment for their remembering and communicating credible testimony.
Abstract
The barriers to effective communication in a courtroom setting are related to children's developmental and maturational difficulties with vocabulary, linguistic complexity, pragmatics, content, and comprehension. Three approaches to creating an environment in which children's memory and ability to communicate will be maximized include increasing the developmental sensitivity of questions to promote effective communication, enhancing children's answers with memory strategy instruction, and modifying the physical-psychological environment in which the questioning occurs. Future research designed to improve the quality of children's testimony will need to focus on the relationship between environment, emotion, and testimony. 1 note