Interviewing Child Witnesses Under The Memorandum Of Good Practice

First published in 1997, this volume provides an accessible yet comprehensive update on the Government’s Memorandum of Good Practice on Video Recorded Interviews with Child Witnesses for Criminal Proceedings. A wide range of authors with direct experience of the Memorandum provide both an introduction to its development and a contemporary critique of its implementation. This is a unique volume offering a multi-disciplinary assessment of policy, practice and research issues concerning the Memorandum, its role and implementation. It is invaluable reading for all professionals working with children in the fields of child protection and criminal justice.

Children's Testimony offers a comprehensive and up-to-dateassessment of issues relating to children's evidence. Starting withpsychological underpinnings and child protection considerations,the reader is taken through a clearly structured and timelycollection of chapters from internationally renownedcontributors. Pointers for practitioners are clearly highlighted throughout and aunique, jargon-free glossary of psychological terms encountered inchild witness research is included making this a highly practicaltext. * An accessible review of existing knowledge and preview of new andrecent developments in psychological research and forensicpractice * An outstanding group of international contributors * Offers a broad scope that considers all the key areas of researchand practice

The Criminal Justice Act 1991 says a video can replace a child's evidence in a criminal court. Such a recording can spare the child from having to recount evidence to the court in person and can provide a highly valuable, early record of the child's account. The main purpose of this memorandum is to help those making a video recording of an interview with a child witness where it is intended that the result should be acceptable in criminal proceedings. The memorandum gives general advice on when and where to make the video; legal conditions; what should be done before the interview; protocol for interviewing children; legal rules which should be observed in order to produce an evidentially acceptable video recording; and arrangements for proper storage, custody and disposal of tapes.

The congruencies between psychology and law are explored in this collection of learning objectives, exercises, and reference material that addresses the intersection of these two disciplines. In addition to practical topics such as crime and policing, the detection of deception and truthfulness, dangerousness and the risk of violence, and the employment of the psychologist as expert witness, it also discusses modern moral issues such as the role and treatment of child witnesses in legal proceedings, investigative psychology and psychological profiling, and the use of insanity and diminished capacity defenses.

Offers a review of the latest literature but moreover a practical guide essential to professionals who give their expert opinions to courts in child care cases.

This book provides a practical guide to the Children Act 1989, its subordinate legislation, case law and social work practice, including equal opportunities.