NCJ Number
102994
Date Published
1986
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes a recent study sponsored by the National Institute of Justice to review legislative revisions, local reforms, and new techniques to alleviate problems in prosecuting child sexual abuse.
Abstract
Reforms are those that attempt to alleviate the child victim's trauma in giving live, incourt testimony and those authorizing mechanical interventions to obtain the child's testimony (videotape and closed circuit television). This study examined practical concerns associated with the implementation of these proposed reforms. Interviews were conducted with judges, prosecutors, victim advocates, protective services workers, and law enforcement officers in Des Moines, Iowa; Milwaukee, Wis; Orlando, Fla; and Ventura, Calif. Unresolved legal issues and practical concerns have dissuaded prosecutors from using the reform measures, particularly videotaped testimony and testimony via closed circuit television. Beneficial statutory reforms are those that abolish special competency requirements for child witnesses and that provide for hearsay exceptions to admit certain out-of-court statements that do not fall within existing hearsay exceptions. The stress of case processing on the child victim can be relieved by training prosecutors to deal with child sexual abuse victims, by providing victim advocates, and by training judges to manage trial procedures to eliminate unnecessary stress on the child. 5 footnotes.