Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse - Innovations in Practice

• NCJ Number: 99317
• Author(s): D Whitcomb
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 7 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: National Institute of Justice Research in Brief, November 1985

Annotation

This paper discusses problems faced and posed by child victims of sexual abuse in the criminal justice system, reform statutes enacted by States, and new techniques to help child victims in the adjudication process.

Abstract

Victim advocates and prosecutors are experimenting with various measures intended to reduce stress on child victims while improving the government's case in court. As of December 1984, States had enacted several reforms, including the use of closed circuit television to broadcast the child's live testimony and videotaping testimony. Many useful techniques, however, are not technological, but involve special exceptions to hearsay for certain out-of-court statements, permitting child witnesses to have a supporting person present during court proceedings, and directing agencies to conduct joint investigations using a single trained interviewer. Two areas for statutory reform are suggested: abolishing special competency requirements for children and adopting special hearsay exceptions. Statutory citations and a chart analyzing State legislation are supplied.