Overview of Issues Related to Child Testimony

• NCJ Number: 222116
• Author(s): Allison Cunningham M.A.; Pamela Hurley M.Ed.
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 34 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Canada Department of Justice
• Corporate Author: Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System
• Sale Source: Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Handbook
• Language: French; English
• Country: Canada
• Note: This is book 1 of a seven handbook series. See NCJ-222117-122 for additional books in the series.

Annotation

The intent of this handbook is to provide an overview of the various issues related to child testimony and aid frontline justice professionals using special accommodations and testimonial aids for young witnesses in criminal proceedings.

Abstract

This overview handbook, the first in a series of seven, concentrates on first, a brief introduction to the testimonial aids and concessions available to child and teenaged witnesses in Canada; second, an overview of issues important to take into account when helping children testify, including some pre-court preparation strategies for children (i.e., education, role-playing, relaxation training and anxiety management, court orientation and support, debriefing, and followup); and lastly, guidance on understanding the court system from a child’s point of view. Good practice principles identified for agencies working together to investigate and prosecute the criminal victimizations of children and support court witnesses and their families include: talking to each other, ensuring early identification of cases where children are witnesses, being clear on roles and responsibilities, advocating for local availability of testimonial aids, and developing the role of child witness specialist. The other six handbooks in this series on using special accommodations and testimonial aids to facilitate the testimony of children are entitled: Testimony Outside the Courtroom, Witness Screens, Video-recorded Evidence, Designated Support Person, Hearsay Evidence and Children, and Children and Teenagers Testifying in Domestic Violence Cases. Table, glossary, and list of suggest readings