Children s Testimony Of Judicial Proceedings Throughout...

Abstract This research paper investigates children’s testimony in judicial proceedings throughout the past few decades. An increase in child abuse allegations in the 1980s resulted in mass allegations throughout the United States. As a result, a child is interviewed by law enforcement and social workers regarding what happened during specific incidents. Tactics to acquire the testimony of the children has been up for debate by the judicial system and psychologists. These tactics include suggestibility, repeated questions, or stereotyping that may alter the testimony of children to accommodate interviewers biases, knowingly and unknowingly, resulting in false arrests and imprisonments. Psychological research has initiated a growing concern†¦show more content†¦Children’s testimonies have serious implications for the accused and the question of whether or not children are reliable sources of information have been brought to the attention of judges and cognitive psychologi sts. The history of court proceedings allowing child witnesses to testify has seen an increase in false accusations against teachers, friends, and family members, bringing to question as to why or how a child may come up with false memories. Psychological research into the subject has shed some light on some possibilities as to how some children may be susceptible to manipulations. Research into children’s memories has serious implications to society an individual’s involved in a specific case. Three outcomes are possible (a) the researchers may discredit the children’s testimony in real abuse cases and strengthens the defenses case against a real perpetrator; (b) the child who has witnessed or experienced a crime testifies accurately and truthfully, resulting in a perpetrator going to prison and not committing another crime; or (c) the child has given false accusations as a result of faulty interview tactics by law enforcement or social service workers that res ult in false charges and imprisonment. Cognitive psychologists take these instances into consideration when creating studies regarding children’s memories and relating them to the judicial system (Ceci Bruyn, 1993). One may be wondering why interview tactics that allow room for