Description
Grounded in the latest clinical and developmental knowledge, this book brings together leading authorities to examine the critical issues that arise when children and adolescents become involved in the justice system. Chapters explore young people’s capacities, competencies, and special vulnerabilities as victims, witnesses, and defendants. Key topics include the reliability of children’s abuse disclosures, eyewitness testimony, interviews, and confessions; the evolving role of the expert witness; the psychological impact of trauma and of legal involvement; factors that shape jurors’ perceptions of children; and what works in rehabilitating juvenile offenders. Policies and practices that are not supported by science are identified, and approaches to improving them are discussed.
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This collection of work by legal and social science scholars shows how social science research can inform laws and policy related to children's interactions with the legal system. The book examines forensic interviews with children, and children's needs and rights in the criminal justice system. Psychological research into children's development is used to evaluate current legal procedures and policies, and recommendations for reform are given. Specific topics addressed include the reliability of children's abuse disclosures and eyewitness testimony, suggestibility and traumatic memories, children's reactions to dependency court, links between victimization and later offending, special issues of girl offenders, and jurors' perceptions of child victims, witnesses, and offenders. The book's readership includes clinicians, legal professionals, social workers, medical personnel, and others involved in child maltreatment cases. Bottoms teaches psychology at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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