Child Victims and Witnesses Support Materials: Jamie’s Story – A Journey Through (and beyond) the Legal System

• NCJ Number: 303955
• Date Published: January 2022
• Agencies: OVC

Annotation

One in a series of books provided by the U.S. Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) that are referred to as “graphic novels” based on the experiences of real people, this book is about a person named Jamie and his experience in a new group home, where he becomes involved in an event that requires him to testify in court as a witness in a criminal case.

Abstract

Intended for use by children, the story is told through drawings in which conversations are portrayed in captions like comic strips. Part One is entitled, “Jamie’s Group Home Experience.” It opens with Jamie meeting for a regular session with a therapist, who discusses Jamie’s experience in the group home. The conversation focuses on Jamie’s difficulty in having friendships and acceptance from others, including  parents. The therapist encourages Jamie to share personal feelings with her. The second part of the story is entitled, “Getting It Out.” The depictions of Jamie’s feelings and experiences are intended to show that writing or drawing can be a good way to express one’s thoughts and feelings. Jamie is depicted having conversations and outings with a friend name Gigi. These interactions lead to the revelation that although Jamie appears to be a girl, her self-consciousness is that of a boy. Jamie also learns that Gigi is being paid by her cousin to participate in parties that involve paid sex (prostitution). Gigi is subsequently arrested, and Jamie is interviewed by the police about her conversations with Gigi. The story then guides the reader through Jamie’s experience in court as a witness in a case of human trafficking. A “Courtroom Exercise” is provided to help youth understand and manage court procedures and experiences.