PSYC 2400 Study Guide - Physical Abuse, Psychological Abuse, Advanced Maternal Age
19 Feb 2014
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Child victims must cope with emotional consequences of criminal acts & potentially traumatizing effects of legal involvement. Children who experience sexual abuse & testify in court have more problems during the trial and those who don"t testify. Poorer mental health ~12 later: especially for repeated testifying in severe cases, worse when younger at time of trial. Model of stress factors for child witnesses (spencer & fin, 1993. Fear of having to confront the person who hurt them. Could feel guilty or like they didn"t do a good job if the suspect isn"t convicted. Courtroom accommodations: screen/shield, closed-circuit television, cctv child not in same room as defendant broadcast testimony, support person. In canada its only if the kid has already testified: pre-recorded video testimony, hearsay, other trials can"t have hearsay admitted, but for children it can. Ex: child goes to teacher and tells them what is going on, the teacher can testify: close courtroom to public/media.
