I need specific referances related to children testimony and the
effects on a child that relate to "long term emotional impact of
testifing"  Nothing about reliability and/or validity or realibilty of
testimony.

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Clarification of Question by dhughl-ga on 30 Nov 2003 09:54 PST

This source in the end states that there are no long term consequences
based on type of trauma intra-familial and or extrafamilial. The
summary states changes but also relates these changes to reactions of
the court experiance to age and frequency of the abuse.

One study that is somewhat inconclusive without paying $46.00 to get
the whole report. Would you search a little longer for a few more
referances?

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 30 Nov 2003 10:31 PST

I believe that what one would consider "long term" is relative. Are
you hoping to find confirmation that there is a "permanent emotional
impact" on a child witness due to such an experience?

I believe that the study offered is an accurate depiction of the
impact of child testimony as a rule. While most (but perhaps not all)
children are (or can be) deeply affected by the experience of
testifying in court, I know of no studies nor one single instance in
which a child (or a parent in the child's behalf) claimed that he or
she was permanently scarred emotionally by the admittedly draining and
stressful (but temporary) experience.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

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Clarification of Question by dhughl-ga on 01 Dec 2003 10:06 PST

I have read court proceedings where therapists have testified to the
standard of "long term lasting effects of having to testify."  Now, as
a mental health professsional I can state that from experience having
a child repeat the trauma story you run a high potential for continued
or extended psychological distress. You want to avoid and don't want
retraumitize a child with having to repeat the details.

I am looking for those details maybe a better way to view this is from
case law or statues.

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 01 Dec 2003 10:20 PST

I'm sorry, but again I must ask about your expectations with regard to
any potential data that might be out there. Are you hoping to find
data which represents the impact that testifying in court has on a
child, or are you more interested in finding data which represents the
long term effects on a child who is required by the judicial system to
repeatedly recount a particularly truamtic event and/or confront
his/her offender?

As you can see, these are two very different issues and I'm not sure
whether or not specific data is available that accurately seperates
the two. If it were possible I foresee more clarification. Of the
latter, a child testifying in a delinquency case or in a divorce case
for example would react very differently than a child who witnessed a
murder or was the personal victim of sexual abuse and was required to
confront their personal offender in open court.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

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Clarification of Question by dhughl-ga on 03 Dec 2003 08:26 PST

Here's what would be the most helpful:

1. "data which represents the long term effects on a child who is
required by the judicial system"

2. Case law that would support the above. 

Thank you

Dear dhughl-ga;

I?ve personally been in law enforcement for more than 20 years and
I?ve testified in court hundreds of times. I can honestly tell you
that each and every time I found the experience quite stressful even
though I do it professionally. The impact of the judicial system on a
child is even more stressful and has been likened to other major
events such as surgery or a visit to the dentist where the unknown can
manifest itself to such a degree that it is sometimes overwhelming.

Here is an in-depth longitudinal study of the social and psychological
adjustment of child witnesses called THREE YEARS AFTER THE VERDICT
that appears to cover every conceivable issue related to the impact of
court experience on a child witness.

THREE YEARS AFTER THE VERDICT
http://www.lfcc.on.ca/threeyrs.htm

Please let me know if this provides what you are looking for.

Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga

This source in the end states that there are no long term consequences
based on type of trauma intra-familial and or extrafamilial. The
summary states changes but also relates these changes to reactions of
the court experiance to age and frequncy of the abuse.

One study that is somewhat inconclusive without paying $46.00 to get
the whole report. Would you search a little longer for a few more
referances?