Children as Witnesses

Helping Young People Give Their Evidence in Court, Helping Courts Hear the Evidence of Children

Parents: When Your Child is a Witness

Pamela Hurley, Karen Scarth & Lynda Stevens (2002)
This is one in a series of five manuals produced in 2002 by the Child Witness Project. This manual is for educators with students who are victims or witnesses in criminal court proceedings. Parents and guardians are a child's primary source of support during the difficult time after a crime or its disclosure. This manual helps parents support and understand their children in the months leading up to a resolution through court. They will learn what to expect and get guidance on patterns of behaviour or emotions that may not be typical for the child but are commonly seen in traumatized children facing the prospect of testifying in court. Strategies to help children cope are offered. 29 p.

Please note that laws referenced in this manuals are from prior to the reforms prompted by Bill C-2 in 2006. For information on current Canadian laws, see the "Full and Candid Account" resource mentioned at the bottom of this page.

Table of Contents

• The London Child Witness Project -- A Brief History

• Introduction

• The Referral Process

• Supporting Your Child or Adolescent

• Helping your Child Prepare for Court

  • My child does not want to talk about what happened. What should I do?

  • My child wants to talk about the incident. Is this okay?

  • My child does not want to testify. What should I do?

  • Is there anything I can do to make the day in court go more smoothly?

  • Can I be in the courtroom while my child testifies?

  • I'm worried how my child will cope if the accused is found not guilty. How can I hep jer deal with that?

  • Is there anything I should do when court is al over?

• How will my Child be Affected by What Happened?

• Peer Relations and Information Sharing with the School

• Letter to Parents

• References

A Newer Resource

A Full and Candid Account: Using Special Accommodations and Testimonial Aids to Facilitate the Testimony of Children (2007) Seven concise resources to help prosecutors, victim-support workers, judges, police and others understand and meet the needs of children who testify in court. The goal of these efforts is to help the witness provide complete and accurate evidence, or "a full and candid account." Topics covered are: overview of issues related to child testimony, testifying outside the courtroom (e.g., via CCTV), witness screens, video-recorded evidence, designated support person, hearsay evidence and children, and children and teenagers who testify in domestic violence cases. Development and distribution of this resource was funded by the Policy Centre for Victim Issues, Department of Justice Canada.