NCJ Number
138402
Date Published
1991
Length
277 pages
Annotation
Intended for criminal justice system personnel, health care providers, legislators, attorneys, victims, their families, and the public, this analysis of the experience of victims of child sexual abuse and their families in the criminal justice system recommends several court reforms to bring greater sensitivity and justice to the legal process.
Abstract
The legal history of the United States, current data regarding the nature and incidence of child sexual abuse, and the equivocal treatment of children and sex offenses are reviewed. Using examples from transcripts and other records of recent cases, the discussion focuses on how current courtroom procedures often fail to acknowledge a child's developmental level and needs and on how juvenile witnesses are often revictimized by the legal system that is supposed to help them. Based on data from trials of sexual abuse cases and from current research in child development, major changes in court procedures are recommended. These include using videotaped testimony and closed-circuit television, specialized education for judges before they preside over these cases, the use of chairs appropriate for children, the modification of the language used to match children's cognitive levels, and other changes. Tables, chapter notes, list of resource organizations, and 159 references