NCJ Number
149722
Editor(s)
J Bulkley,
C Sandt
Date Published
1994
Length
106 pages
Annotation
Four papers by professionals in social science and law instruct judges in various procedures and techniques for handling child sexual abuse cases in court.
Abstract
The first paper discusses the nature and dynamics of child sexual abuse. Topics addressed include the characteristics of child sexual abuse, children's reports of sexual abuse, parental response to a child's disclosure of sexual abuse, and the emotional effects of child sexual abuse. Other subjects discussed are the emotional effects of legal intervention, and child sexual abuse offenders. The second paper considers the principles of child development for judicial application. Following a review of the factors that affect the testimony of children, the paper discusses guidelines for questioning children, preparing and educating child witnesses for court, the judge's duty to control the examination of witnesses, and improving the questioning of children. Other topics considered are listening to testimony, the emotional effects of legal intervention on children, identifying children in need of special court procedures, recognizing and helping children in distress on the witness stand, and competency to testify. Remaining papers focus on special techniques to assist child witnesses in court (the judicial tradition of flexibility and innovation) and key evidentiary issues in child sexual abuse cases. References accompany the papers.