Bench book for children giving evidence in Australian courts / The Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration.

Melbourne : Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration Incorporated, 2009.

203351

Child abuse -- Investigation -- Australia.

Child sexual abuse -- Investigation -- Australia.

Interviewing in child abuse -- Australia.

Children -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Australia.

Evidence (Law) -- Australia.

Child witnesses -- Australia.

Abused children -- Psychology.

Child welfare -- Australia.

1. Sexual abuse of children and their experience of the justice system

2. Child development, children's evidence and communicating with children

3. Courts, children's evidence and children's coping skills

4. The judicial role in child sexual abuse cases and preparation for trial

5. Particular procedures for children giving evidence

6. Other trial issues: expert evidence and summing-up

Appendix. Suggested "script" for use in special hearings with children or cognitively impaired witnesses.

Spiral bound.

This Bench Book is Intended primarily for judicial officers who deal with children giving evidence in criminal proceedings as complainants or witnesses, not as accused. It is not limited to child sexual abuse, although this forms a substantial proportion of criminal proceedings involving children. The Bench Book does not deal with the sentencing of child offenders of child protection hearings - introduction.

Includes bibliographic references and index.

Children giving evidence in Australian courts

9781875527502

xiv, 154 pages ; 30 cm.