A National Newsletter About Child Victims and Witnesses, produced bi-annually when funding permits. Since 1995, when Health Canada funded the first two issues, it links a wide-range of professionals serving child victims and witnesses, the legal profession, law enforcement, mental health and social service agencies, academia and shelters, reflects a commitment to a multidisciplinary approach. The Archangelo Rea Foundation has also generously supported some issues. Articles deal with legal developments, innovative program delivery, new research and resource information.

Past Issues

Seven issues have been produced, three of which are available here in electronic format. The other four can be ordered from the Centre (see the publication order form.

Winter 2001

Expert Evidence and Delayed Disclosure: Aftermath of R. v. D.D. * Further Thoughts to Consider in R. v. D.D. * Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence: Increasing Understanding and Effective Responses by Professionals * Results of the Domestic Violence Court Questionnaire: Summer 2000 Edition * Child Victims and the Criminal Justice System * Protecting Children: Amendments to the Child and Family Services Act * Delayed Disclosure: Videotaped Evidence * Some Interesting and Useful Web Sites * Conferences Calendar and Resources

Winter 2001 Issue (file size 239K)

Summer 2000

Developing a Seamless Community and Justice Response for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence * Should Children Who Witness Domestic Violence Become Crown Witnesses in Criminal Proceedings? * Youthful Witnesses in Domestic Violence Court: A Crown's Perspective * Mothers of Young Witnesses in Domestic Violence Court * Domestic Violence Court Process Model * Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence: Government of Ontario Initiatives * Summary of Evaluation of the London (Ontario) Community Group Treatment Programme for Children who have Witnessed Woman Abuse * Recommendations for the Future of Children: Domestic Violence and Children * Events and Conference Calendar

This 12-page issue is available for $12.50 plus S&H.

Winter 1999

Ontario Multi-site Study Identifies Minimal Progress for Witnesses * British Columbia Study Also Seeks to Improve Experience of Child Witnesses * Adult Witnesses with Developmental Disabilities * Supreme Court of Canada Recognizes Special Needs of Children (R. v. W.J.F.) * Events and Conference Calendar

Winter 1999 Issue (file size 239K)

Winter 1997/98

Stress and Vicarious Trauma: A Crown Attorney's Perspective * Vicarious Trauma * Closed-Circuit Television * Supreme Court of Canada Judgement: Videotaped Evidence * Some Interesting and Useful Web Sites * Events and Conferences Calendar

Winter 1997/98 Issue (file size 1.8 MB)

Summer 1997

"Discounting" the Serious of Child Sexual Abuse by the Courts * Project Guardian: A Multi-Victim, Multi-Offender Case of Child Sexual Exploitation in London, Ontario * Provincial and Territorial Updates * Amendments to s. 486 of the Criminal Code * Testimony to Facilitate Children's Testimony * Court Judgements of the Supreme Court of Canada

This 12-page issue is available for $10.00 plus S&H.

Spring 1996

Impetus, Momentun, Synergy: IMPACT * Fair Play and Decency: Implications of the Supreme Court of Canada's Decision in O'Connor * National Overview of Programs and Services for Young Victim/Witnesses * Provincial and Territorial Submissions * Quebec's State of the Art Closed-Circuit Television * Victims and Parole

A photocopy of this 20-page issue is available for $2.00 plus S&H.

Autumn 1995

Announcing the First Issue of a National Newsletter * Metropolitan Toronto Child Abuse Prosecution Team and the "Child Friendly" Court * The Child Witness Project of the London Family Court Clinic * Submissions Invited

This four page issue is available for $2.25 plus S&H.

For more information about children and court testimony, visit the page about the Child Witness Project or read our latest training 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.