Recommendations to Improve the Criminal Justice Response to Child Victims and Witnesses

By Government Printing Office

Description
Government Reference Publication

Excerpt
Excerpt: Some of the most important cases investigators, prosecutors, and judges will handle during the course of their careers are those involving child victims and witnesses. The stakes are incredibly high. What happens to these children has a significant impact both on individual children and on the overall safety and well-being of communities. Children who are victims of or witnesses to violent crime are at an increased risk for delinquency, adult criminality, and violent behavior. National studies have shown that being abused or neglected as a child increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53 percent and of arrest for a violent crime as an adult by 38 percent.1 It also places children at significant risk for substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide. Witnessing family violence appears to have both short- and long-term effects on children. Intervening in the lives of victimized children before negative patterns of behavior, low self-esteem, and damaged character are established may be the only real opportunity to prevent future violence in our streets and in our homes.

Table of Contents
Contents Message from the Director ..................................................................................... ii Executive Summary ............................................................................................... iii Children as Victims and Witnesses ........................................................................ 1 Prevalence ...................................................................................................... 1 Invisible Victims: Children Who Witness Violence ..................................... 1 Long-Term Impact of Victimization and Witnessing Violence ..................... 3 Child Victims and Witnesses in the Criminal Justice System ................................ 4 A System Designed for Adults ...................................................................... 5 What Works: Innovative Practices and Programs ................................................. 6 Specialization and Training of Criminal Justice Professionals ..................... 7 Use of Child Interview Specialists ................................................................. 8 Interacting with Children Who Witness Domestic Violence ......................... 9 Multidisciplinary Initiatives ......................................................................... 10 Children’s Advocacy Centers....................................................................... 11 Child Death Review Teams ......................................................................... 11 Child Development – Community Policing ................................................ 12 Legal Representation for Child Victims ...................................................... 13 Reform of Juvenile/Family Court Handling of Child Abuse and Neglect Cases .............................................................. 13 Use of Victim Assistance Professionals ....................................................... 14 Preparing Children for Court: Court School Programs .............................. 14 Special Courtroom Accommodations .......................................................... 15 Victim Impact Statements: In a Child’s Words ........................................... 17 Recommendations for Improving the Response to Children Exposed to Violence ......................................................... 18 Recommendations for All Criminal Justice Professionals .......................... 18 Specific Recommendations for Law Enforcement Agencies ...................... 18 Specific Recommendations for Prosecutors’ Offices .................................. 19 Specific Recommendations for Criminal Court Judges and Administrators ................................................. 19 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 20 Resources for Information and Training .............................................................. 21 Innovative Programs ............................................................................................. 22 References............................................................................................................. 23

Book Id: WPLBN0000195568
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 1,411,562 KB.
Reproduction Date: 2005
Full Text

Title:

Recommendations to Improve the Criminal Justice Response to Child Victims and Witnesses

Author:

Government Printing Office

Volume:

Language:

English

Subject:

Government publications, Legislation., Economic & political studies

Collection:

Government Printing Office

Subcollection:

Historic
Publication Date:

Publisher:

Government Printing Office

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