Conference papers

Child witnesses in the criminal justice system : the issue of vulnerability

Anna Whittam and Heidi Ehrat
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, South Australia

Presented at:
Child Sexual Abuse : Justice Response or Alternative Resolution
Novotel Adelaide on Hindley, Adelaide
1-2 May 2003

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Abstract

There is little doubt that child victims of sexual abuse are vulnerable to further harm through exposure to the criminal justice system. Recent research has clearly demonstrated that child victims who give evidence in court are often negatively affected by their experiences with the court process. But which children are most vulnerable and how can this vulnerability be assessed and managed? Are traditional assumptions about which children are most susceptible to additional harm accurate? This paper explores assumptions about the vulnerability of children participating in the South Australian criminal justice system, the role of Witness Assistance Officers in the South Australian Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and factors which point to vulnerability for child victims of sexual abuse who are involved in the criminal justice system. The paper proposes a framework for the assessment of witness vulnerability, which includes consideration of individual, environmental and criminal justice system factors.