NCJ Number
190169
Journal
Revija za Kriminalistiko in Kriminologijo Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 2000 Pages: 207-215
Date Published
2000
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper provides guidelines for enhancing and facilitating services and procedures for child victims/witnesses in criminal proceedings in Slovenia.
Abstract
Since attention to the syndrome of the physical and sexual abuse of children has increased in recent decades, more and more children are appearing before the courts as witnesses of criminal offenses in which they were themselves victimized. The criminal justice system, as a rational system created by adults for adults, has proven to be unsuitable for child victims/witnesses and also unprepared to adjust to the needs of children. This circumstance has both impeded the adjudication of cases in which children are important witnesses and also caused children additional traumas. Knowledge about ways in which to make a child witness's situation more palatable have gradually come to Slovenia from Anglo-Saxon countries, where the majority of research on these topics has been conducted. Slovene legislation relative to procedures for child witnesses/victims has been enacted as a result of this influence. Under new policies, a child is to be interviewed by a multidisciplinary team in the absence of the defendant and only once (such an interview may even have a positive effect for the child); the circumstances and the atmosphere during the interview with the child should be conducive to reducing stress on the child; such proceedings should be tailored to the child's attention span and age level; a child should have the right to be accompanied in all proceedings by a person in whom the child has confidence; some rules of evidence should be modified, and a network of support should be provided for child crime victims and the persons closest to them. 18 references