Child Witnesses' Access to Alternative Modes of Testifying in New Zealand

Hanna, Kirsten; Davies, Emma; Crothers, Charles; Henderson, Emily

doi:10.1080/13218719.2011.559153

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Specifically, those tasked with interviewing the child complainant during the investigation—police, psychologists, and social workers, for example—received specialist training in evidence-based interview practices to reduce the risk of contaminating this early account (e.g., New Zealand: Westera, Zajac, & Brown, 2016). Furthermore, to remove the potential negative effects of delay from children’s evidence, these interviews were video recorded; many jurisdictions allowed these interviews to be played in the courtroom in place of live direct examination (e.g., New Zealand: Hanna, Davies, Crothers, & Henderson, 2012; Pipe & Henaghan, 1996; UK: Westcott, Davies, & Spencer, 1999). Third, the criminal justice system puts in place specific strategies to facilitate the giving of live evidence.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Third, the criminal justice system puts in place specific strategies to facilitate the giving of live evidence. These measures included allowing the use of support people and permitting children to testify via special measures such as closed-circuit TV (CCTV) or from behind a screen (e.g., Canada: Bala, 1999; New Zealand: Hanna et al, 2012; Pipe & Henaghan, 1996; United States: Goodman, 2006; Australia: Shrimpton, Oates, & Hayes, 1996).…”

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The “Good Old Days” of Courtroom Questioning: Changes in the Format of Child Cross-Examination Questions Over 60 Years

2017

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Recent decades have seen an explosion of research into children's eyewitness capabilities and resulted in legal reform to render the adversarial trial process more child friendly. Many, however, have been left with the feeling that the most intimidating legal process for child complainants-cross-examination-has not changed meaningfully despite its potential to distort children's evidence. To test this possibility, we compared the cross-examination questioning of Australian child sexual abuse complainants in the 1950s to that used in contemporary cases. We found that the format of cross-examination questions has remained largely consistent over time, with leading questions still making up the bulk of the questions asked. The changes that we did observe, however, are concerning. Cross-examination questions posed to contemporary child complainants were less likely to be open-ended and more likely to be complex, relative to those asked in the 1950s. Crucially, contemporary complainants were asked 3 times as many cross-examination questions as they were 60 years ago. These changes are likely to have detrimental effects on child complainants and their evidence and could reduce the ability of jurors to reach just outcomes in these cases.

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confidence: 99%

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The “Good Old Days” of Courtroom Questioning: Changes in the Format of Child Cross-Examination Questions Over 60 Years

2017

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“…DVD recording) on juror perceptions of children and their evidence. There is debate in the literature about the impact of CCTV on jurors’ assessment of children’s testimony (Hanna et al., 2012). Experimental studies have not shown that CCTV or videotaped evidence impedes mock jurors’ capacity to detect lies compared to live testimony (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results of studies investigating mock jurors’ perceptions of child witnesses testifying via CCTV/videotape compared to live testimony are more mixed, with some finding that there is no difference in perceptions, and others finding that jurors view children and their evidence less positively via CCTV/videotaped testimony (Hanna et al., 2012). However, there is no evidence that conviction rates are lower when children give evidence via CCTV/videotaped testimony than when they give evidence live (Hanna et al., 2012). While the sample in this study is too small to draw conclusions about the effect of pre-recording on outcomes, it is perhaps of interest to note here that there were two guilty pleas, and of the seven cases that went to trial, three resulted in convictions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pre-recording testimony in New Zealand: Lawyers’ and victim advisors’ experiences in nine cases

Davies¹,

Hanna

2013

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology

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This paper reports on lawyers’ and victim advisors’ experiences with nine pre-recorded hearings involving young people as witnesses in criminal court cases in Auckland. Focus groups, interviews and a questionnaire were used to elicit perceived advantages and disadvantages, issues in the preparation for hearings, conducting the hearings and showing the pre-recordings at trial. Although the sample is not large enough to generate definitive conclusions, 21 of 24 participants described pre-recorded hearings positively with only two prosecutors and one defence counsel expressing concern about increasing the use of pre-recording in the future. Participants raised a series of practice issues which could readily be addressed. Presuming provision to recall the child if necessary, late or incomplete disclosure from third parties is the only significant challenge to these pre-recorded hearings. The logistical challenge of accessing timely relevant information from child protection records was overcome in Auckland through the development of an inter-agency protocol. Pre-recording children’s and young people’s entire evidence appeared to be a constructive contribution to the criminal justice system.

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“…Os resultados indicaram que os jurados esperam que uma criança, num depoimento tradicional, sinta-se mais nervosa, chorosa, inquieta, menos confi ante, cooperativa, fl uente, que mantenha menos contato ocular e dê respostas mais curtas. Na Nova Zelândia, um dos países pioneiros na utilização de formas alternativas de tomada de depoimentos, foram observados benefícios em relação à obtenção de uma melhor qualidade da evidência e efi ciência nos processos jurídicos (Hanna, Davies, Crothers, & Henderson, 2012). Estudos anteriores também apontaram resultados positivos do uso do CCTV como o fato de as crianças estarem mais relaxadas e proverem depoimentos mais detalhados e completos (Goodman et al, 1998).…”

Section: Tomada De Depoimentos Com Crianças E Adolescentes Em Outros unclassified

Depoimento especial: para além do embatee pela proteção das crianças e adolescentesvítimas de violência sexual

Pelisoli¹,

Dobke²,

Dell’Aglio³

2014

Temas Psicol.

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ResumoA nova metodologia de inquirição de crianças e adolescentes vítimas de abuso sexual pelo Poder Judiciário denominada Depoimento Especial tem sido discutida por profi ssionais de diferentes áreas do conhecimento. Dessas discussões, resultaram opiniões divergentes sobre o assunto. Esse artigo visa apresentar historicamente a metodologia do Depoimento Especial, primeiramente denominado Depoimento Sem Dano, e discutir as necessidades de a Justiça dialogar com outros saberes para um melhor direcionamento da realização deste ato processual -a ouvida da criança. Conclui-se, a partir da revisão de literatura e da interlocução entre Psicologia e Direito, que as discordâncias e debates legais não têm contribuído para a proteção das vítimas. O Poder Judiciário e outras áreas do conhecimento precisam fortalecer suas habilidades para trabalhar em conjunto numa interlocução respeitosa e equânime troca de conhecimentos. A realização da nova metodologia é possível e necessária, entretanto, mudanças podem trazer benefícios e maior proteção a crianças e adolescentes brasileiros. Palavras-chave:Depoimento especial, depoimento sem dano, inquirição, abuso sexual, Psicologia Jurídica. Special Testimony: Beyond Legal Confl icts and in Favor of the Protection of Children and Adolescents Victims of Sexual Violence AbstractThe Judiciary Inquiry method of testimony for children and adolescents who suffered sexual abuse, called special testimony, has been discussed by professionals and there are divergent opinions about it. This article aims to present historically the Special Inquiry method that has been used in Brazil, fi rstly named Testimony without Damage, and discuss the needs of the area for a better direction of this activity. The 1 Endereço para correspondência:

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Child Witnesses' Access to Alternative Modes of Testifying in New Zealand

Cited by 10 publications

References 18 publications

The “Good Old Days” of Courtroom Questioning: Changes in the Format of Child Cross-Examination Questions Over 60 Years

The “Good Old Days” of Courtroom Questioning: Changes in the Format of Child Cross-Examination Questions Over 60 Years

Pre-recording testimony in New Zealand: Lawyers’ and victim advisors’ experiences in nine cases

Depoimento especial: para além do embatee pela proteção das crianças e adolescentesvítimas de violência sexual

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