The impact of child witness demeanor on perceived credibility and trial outcome in sexual abuse cases

Journal of Family Violence

Volumn 13, Issue 2, 1998, Pages 187-195

  Regan, Pamela C ^a   Baker, Sheri J ^b  

^a CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

Child witness; Credibility; Sexual abuse; Witness demeanor

Indexed keywords

EID: 0032394237     PISSN: 08857482     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1023/A:1022845724226     Document Type: Article

References (25)

1. Borgida, E., Gresham, A. W., Kovera, M. B., and Regan, P. C. (1992). Children as witnesses in court: The influence of expert psychological testimony. In Burgess, A. W. (ed.), Child trauma I: Issues & Research, Garland, New York, pp. 131-165.
2. Corder, B. F., and Whiteside, R. (1988). A survey of jurors' perception of issues related to child sexual abuse. Am. J. Forensic Psychol. 6: 37-43.
3. Coy v. Iowa, 487 U.S. 1012 (1988).
4. Crowley, M. J., O'Callaghan, M. G., and Ball, P. J. (1994). The juridical impact of psychological expert testimony in a simulated child sexual abuse trial. Law Hum. Behav. 18: 89-105.
5. Duggan, III, I. M., Aubrey, M., Doherty, E., et al. (1989). The credibility of children as witnesses in a simulated child sexual abuse trial. In Ceci, S. J., Ross, D. F., and Toglia, M. P. (eds.), Perspectives on Children's Testimony, Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 71-99.
6. Finkelhor, D. (ed.). (1986). A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse, Sage, Newbury Park, CA.
7. Finkelhor, D. (1993). Epidemiological factors in the clinical identification of child sexual abuse. Child Abuse Negl. 17: 67-70.
8. Fritz, G., Stoll, K., and Wagner, N. (1981). A comparison of males and females who were sexually molested as children. J. Sex Marit. Ther. 7: 54-59.
9. Gabora, N. J., Spanos, N. P., and Joab, A. (1993). The effects of complainant age and expert psychological testimony in a simulated child sexual abuse trial. Law Hum Behav. 17: 103-119.
10. Goodman, G. S. (1984). Children's testimony in historical perspective. J. Social Issues 40: 9-31.
11. Goodman, G. S., Bottoms, B. I., Herscovici, B. B., and Shaver, P. (1989). Determinants of the child victim's perceived credibility. In Ceci, S. J., Ross, D. F., and Toglia, M. P. (eds.), Perspectives on Children's Testimony, Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 1-22.
12. Goodman, G. S., Levine, M., Melton, G. B., and Ogden, D. W. (1991). Child witnesses and the confrontation clause. The American Psychological Association brief in Maryland v. Craig. Law Hum. Behav. 15: 13-29.
13. Goodman, G. S., Taub, E. P., Jones, D. P. H., England, P., Port, L. K., Rudy, L., and Prado, L. (1992). Testifying in criminal court: Emotional effects on child sexual assault victims. Monog. Soc. Res. Child Devel. 57: 1-141.
14. Gresham, A. W., Bull, M. A., Regan, P. C., and Borgida, E. (1991). The influence of expert testimony and child witness demeanor on jury decision making. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society, Washington, D.C.
15. Maryland v. Craig, 497 U.S. 836 (1990).
16. Morgan, J., and Williams, J. (1993). A role for a support person for child witnesses in criminal proceedings. Brit. J. Social Work 23: 113-122.
17. Nightingale, N. N. (1993). Juror reactions to child victim witnesses. Law Hum. Behav. 17: 679-694.
18. Nurcombe, B. (1986). The child as witness: Competency and credibility. J. Am. Acad. Child Psychiatry 25: 473-480.
19. Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39 (1987).
20. Quinn, K. M. (1988). The credibility of children's allegations of sexual abuse. Behav. Sci. Law 6: 181-199.
21. Rogers, C., and Terry, T. (1984). Clinical intervention with boy victims of sexual abuse. In Stuart, I., and Greer, J. (eds.), Victims of Sexual Aggression: Treatment of Children, Women, and Men, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, pp. 91-104.
22. Russell, D., and Finkelhor, D. (1984). Women as perpetrators: Review of the evidence. In Finkelhor, D. (ed.), Child Sexual Abuse: New Theory and Practice, The Free Press, New York, pp. 171-185.
23. Small, M. A., and Melton, G. B. (1994). Evaluation of child witnesses for confrontation by criminal defendants. Prof Psychol. Res. Pract. 25: 228-233.
24. Westcott, H. L., and Davies, G. M. (1993). Children's welfare in the courtroom: Preparation and protection of the child witness. Child. Soc. 7: 388-396.
25. Yates, A. (1987). Should young children testify in cases of sexual abuse? Am. J. Psychiatry 144: 476-480.