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Legal interventions for child victims
1American Prosecutors Research Institute, 99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 510, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA. debra.whitcomb@ndaa-apri.org
Journal of Traumatic Stress
|April 18, 2003
Summary
Most children testifying in court do not suffer long-term harm. This review examines child victim/witness trauma in the justice system and identifies effective stress-reduction strategies.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Child Psychology
- Legal Psychology
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding the psychological impact of the justice system on child victims and witnesses.
- Legal reforms and procedural modifications have been implemented to mitigate potential trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the extent of trauma experienced by children involved in the justice system.
- To identify effective interventions for reducing trauma in child victims/witnesses.
Main Methods:
- Systematic synthesis of existing research on child victim/witness mental health.
- Analysis of studies addressing trauma and intervention effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Most children do not experience significant long-term adverse effects from testifying.
- Specific aspects of the justice system can exacerbate stress for child participants.
- Several strategies show promise in alleviating child-related stress within the legal context.
Conclusions:
- The justice system's impact on children's mental health is less severe than often presumed.
- Targeted interventions can effectively reduce stress and trauma for child victims/witnesses.
- Further research can refine strategies for supporting children in legal proceedings.