The practice of prosecuting child maltreatment: Results of an online survey of prosecutors
The practice of prosecuting child maltreatment: Results of an online survey of prosecutors
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DOI：
10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.04.007
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发表时间：
2017-07-01
影响因子：
4.8
通讯作者：
Whitcomb, Debra
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Cross, Theodore P.;Whitcomb, Debra
尽管倡导者，从业人员和立法者努力减轻刑事司法系统中虐待儿童受害者的负担，但检察官仍面临许多挑战，因为他们试图追究罪犯的责任，同时尽量减少对儿童的情感影响。37个州的200多名州和地方检察官对一项在线调查作出了回应，分享了他们对当前挑战的看法、在裁决过程中支持儿童的程序、美国最高法院对克劳福德诉华盛顿案（2004年）的意见、性犯罪者登记册和保护儿童性剥削受害者的“安全港”立法的影响。答复者面临的最紧迫挑战是获取证据以证实儿童的陈述以及与儿童受害者一起工作的困难。儿童证词被列为比任何其他类型的证据更常见的证据，最不常见的是DNA，犯罪行为的照片或视频，以及其他物证。检察官主要依靠受害人/证人助理和法庭图尔斯参观，帮助儿童为作证做好准备;很少使用其他技术手段。结果表明，克劳福德案的意见对儿童证词的必要性和起诉的决定产生了真实的但有限的影响。调查结果表明，需要更加注意彻底调查，特别注意确证。这样做可以加强儿童的可信度，这在缺乏虐待的身体或医疗证据的情况下尤其重要。
Despite efforts by advocates, practitioners, and legislators to alleviate the burden on child maltreatment victims in the criminal justice system, many challenges remain for prosecutors as they seek to hold offenders accountable while minimizing the emotional impact on children. More than 200 state and local prosecutors in 37 states responded to an online survey to share their perspectives on current challenges, procedures to support children in the adjudication process, and the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court opinion in Crawford v. Washington (2004), sex offender registries, and "Safe Harbor" legislation to protect child sexual exploitation victims. Respondents' most pressing challenges were obtaining evidence to corroborate children's statements and the difficulties of working with child victims. Child testimony was ranked as more frequent than any other type of evidence, and least frequent were DNA, photos or videos of criminal acts, and other physical evidence. Prosecutors rely primarily on victim/witness assistants and courtroom tours to prepare children for testimony; technological alternatives are seldom used. Results suggest a real but limited impact of the Crawford opinion on the need for child testimony and on the decision to prosecute. Survey findings indicate a need for greater attention to thorough investigations with particular attention to corroboration. Doing so may strengthen the child's credibility, which is especially critical in cases lacking physical or medical evidence of maltreatment.