The Child Witness: Legal Issues and Dilemmas

This is the first book for professionals who seek an integrated, up-to-date review of psychological research and recent court cases dealing with children as witnesses in court. It is organized around four issues: the competence of children as witnesses, the credibility of children, the rights of children and the rights of the accused. Child and adolescent development is reviewed from a psychological perspective. Recent research on issues of comprehension, memory and communication skills of children are described alongside the reactions of various audiences - lawyers, judges and juries - to the children's credibility. Procedures designed to reduce the traumatization of children who testify in court are described and evaluated.

Children as Witnesses in Court Issues and Dilemmas In the Eye of the Beholder Reactions to Children as Legal Witnesses The Developing Child A Psycholegal Perspective Children in Court Issues of Comprehension, Memory, and Communication With Liberty and Justice for All Protecting the Rights of Child Witnesses, Defendants, and the Public Resolving the Dilemmas The Marriage of Social Science and the Law In the Aftermath of McMartin Society's Rights to Accurate Testimony