UNIT #6: Child victims and witnesses

Question 1

Anatomically detailed dolls

x3

Answer 1

(1) A doll, sometimes like a ragdoll, that is consistent with the male or female anatomy.
(2) Used when interviewing children suspected of being sexually abused.
(3) May be useful for children that may have
difficulty verbalizing what occurred, and in
their play with the dolls they will demonstrate
the events they experienced.

Question 2

Competency inquiry

Answer 2

Questions posed to child witnesses under the age of 14 To determine whether they are able to communicate the evidence and understand the difference between the truth and a lie, and, in the circumstances of testifying, see if they feel compelled to tell the truth.

Question 3

Criterion-based content analysis

x3

Answer 3

(1) Analysis that uses criteria to distinguish truthful from false statements made by children
(2) The underlying assumption is that
descriptions of real life events differ in
quality and content from memories
that are fabricated.
(3) 18 Criteria were developed to
discriminate between true and
fabricated Events of sexual abuse.

Question 4

Elimination lineup

x5

Answer 4

(1) Lineup procedure for children that first asks them to pick out the person who looks most like the perpetrator from the photos displayed.
(2) Next, children are asked whether the most similar person selected is in fact the perpetrator.
(3) All lineup photos are presented to the child, and the child is asked to select the lineup member who looks most like the culprit (relative judgment).
Once this decision is made, the remaining photos
are removed.
(4) 2. The child is asked to compare his memory of the culprit with the most similar photo selected
in the first stage and to decide if the photo is of the culprit (absolute judgement).
(5) Elimination procedure found to significantly decrease children’s False-Positive responding with
target-absent line ups compared with the simultaneous procedure.

Question 5

Emotional maltreatment & Examples

Answer 5

(1) Acts or Omissions by caregivers that cause or could cause serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders

(2) Examples:
Verbal threats, socially isolating a child,
intimidation, exploitation, Terrorizing, or
routinely making unreasonable demands
on a child

Question 6

Fabricating

Answer 6

Making false claims

Question 7

False memory syndrome

Answer 7

Term to describe clients’ False beliefs that they were sexually abused as children, having no memories of this abuse until the entry therapy to deal with some other psychological problem, such as depression or substance abuse

Question 8

Historical child sexual abuse

Answer 8

Allegations of child abuse having occurred several years, often decades, prior to when they’re being prosecuted.

Question 9

In need of protection

Answer 9

A term used to describe a child’s need to be separated from his or her caregiver because of maltreatment

Question 10

Incidence

Answer 10

Number of new child-maltreatment cases in a specific population occurring in a given time period, usually a year

Question 11

Narrative elaboration

x6

Answer 11

(1) An interview procedure whereby children learn to organize their story into relevant categories: Participants, settings, actions, conversation/effective states, and consequences.
(2) A card containing a line Drawing is available for
Each category.
(3) These visual cues Help children to Remember to state All they can.
(4) Children practice telling Stories with each card
Before being questioned About the critical event.
(5) Asked for a free-narrative Of the critical event - for Example “ what happened?”
(6) Lastly, children presented With each card and asked, “Does this card remind you Of something else?”

Question 12

Neglect/failure to provide & Examples

Answer 12

(1) When a child’s caregivers Do not provide the requisite attention to the child’s emotional, psychological, or physical development.

(2) Examples: Failure to supervise or protect
leading to physical harm
(such as drunk driving with the child),
failure to provide adequate nutrition or
clothing, failure to provide medical
treatment, and exposing the child to
unhygienic or dangerous living conditions

Question 13

Physical abuse & Examples

Answer 13

(1) The deliberate application of force to any part of a child’s body that results in or may result in a non-accidental injury

(2) Examples:
Choking, hitting, biting,
kicking, burning, shaking,
and poisoning

Question 14

Prevalence

Answer 14

In the study of child abuse, the proportion of the population at a specific point in time that was Maltreated during childhood.

Question 15

Risk factor

Answer 15

A factor that increases the likelihood for emotional and/or behavioural problems

Question 16

Sexual abuse & Examples

Answer 16

(1) When an adult or youth uses a child for sexual purposes

(2) Examples:
Fondling, intercourse, incest, 
sodomy, exhibitionism, and exploitation 
through prostitution or the production of 
pornographic materials

Question 17

Statement validity analysis

Answer 17

A comprehensive protocol to distinguish truthful or false statements made by children containing three parts:

(1) A structured interview of a child witness
(2) A systematic analysis of the verbal content of a child’s statement (criteria-based content analysis)
(3) The application of the statement validity check list

Question 18

Step-wise interview

Answer 18

Interview protocol with a series of steps designed to start the interview with the least leading and directive type of questioning, and then proceed to more specific forms of questioning, as necessary.

Question 19

Criterion-based content analysis

Answer 19

(1) It is assumed that true events are
more likely to contain the CBCA
criteria then fabricated events

(2) Analysis that uses criteria to
distinguish truthful from false
statements made by children

(3) Part of a more comprehensive protocol
called statement validity analysis.

Question 20

Techniques used to increase
accuracy of children’s recall

x4

Answer 20

(1) Criterion-based content analysis
(2) Anatomically detailed dolls
(3) Free Recall
(4) Step-Wise interview

Question 21

Step-wise interview

x9 Steps

Answer 21

1. Report building. Talk to the child
   about neutral topics, trying to make
   him or her comfortable.
2. Recall of two nonabuse events.
   Have the child describe two experienced
   events, such as a birthday party in going to
   the zoo.
3. Explanation of truth. Explain truth in general and
   have a child agreed to tell the truth.
4. Introduction of critical topic.
   Start with open-ended questions, such as do you know why you are talking with me today? Proceed to more specific questions if disclosure does not occur, such as who are the people you
   like/don’t like to be with?
5. Free-narrative. Ask the child to describe
   would happen by using a free-narrative approach.
6. General questions. Ask questions based on what the child said, in a manner the child understands.
7. Specific questions (if necessary) Follow up and clarify inconsistencies with more specific questions.
8. Interview aids (if necessary) Have a child draw if he is not responding. Dolls may be introduced only after disclosure has occurred.
9. Conclude. Thank the child for helping and explain what will happen next.

Question 22

Why are children more
susceptible to influence an
adult when being interviewed?

x2

Answer 22

(1) Changes to the cognitive system.

(2) Social compliance or social pressure

Question 23

Discuss Why are children more
susceptible to influence an
adult when being interviewed relating to Changes to the cognitive system?

x5

Answer 23

1) Some research has found developmental differences in the way children and adults encode, store, and retrieve memories.
2) Differences between children and adults also have been found in forgetting and retention.
3) Children misattribute where information
came from (E.G. Children may report on an event that they heard about for example through suggestive questioning from an interviewer as if it were something they had experienced).
4) Currently, researchers believe that an interaction of social and cognitive factors is likely
responsible for children’s suggestibility and the
reporting of false information.
5) Researchers recommend relying on free Recall as much as possible to obtain accurate information.

Question 24

Discuss Why are children more
susceptible to influence an
adult when being interviewed relating to Social compliance or social pressure?

Answer 24

1) Children may respond to suggestion
of influences because they trust and want to cooperate with adult interviewers, even if the children do not understand or have knowledge to answer the question.

Question 25

Changes in how children have been viewed as witnesses over the years

x9

Answer 25

(1) Early views can be traced back to Salem witch trials, when children Told lies and claimed to have witnessed defendant’s perform supernatural feats.
(2) Years following the execution of the defendants for witchcraft, some of the children recanted their testimonies.
(3) The prevailing legal attitude toward child witnesses for the following 300 years was that of skepticism.
(4) Research testing the validity of these negative attitudes towards children witnesses started in Europe in the early 20th century.
(5) Reviews from this time concluded that
young children were highly suggestible and had difficulty separating fact from fantasy.
(6) Because the criminal justice system was not
very interested in reviews, few studies were
conducted on children’s competencies during
early and mid-20 century.
(7) In 1970s a flurry of research on children’s witness ability started and continues to this day.
(8) There are four factors that led to the renewed interest in child witnesses.
(F9) Increasing number of reported sexual and physical abuse cases where a child
was a victim or witness.

Question 26

four factors that led to the renewed interest in child witnesses.

Answer 26

1. Expert psychological testimony was becoming more acceptable in the courtroom.
2. Social scientists were interested in research that could be applied to real-world problems.
3. Studies on adult eyewitness testimony were increasing.
4. The legal community became interested in behavioural science research regarding child witnesses.

Question 27

Key elements In increasing the
accuracy of children’s recall

x8

Answer 27

1) Studies which examined transcripts from children’s aged 5 to 18 regarding testimony In sexual abuse cases, Showed how questions produced the most productive information compared to the other types of questions (e.g. “ how do you feel?” Elicited the most evaluate of information compared to direct and suggestive questions)
2) Research suggests that the accuracy of children’s reporting is highly dependent on how they’re asked to report.
3) Children tend to report very little information using a free narrative.
4) Direct questions or problems, such as “what else do you remember?” Or “tell me more about what you remember”. Are often necessary to elicit the required information.
5) Avoid asking leading, direct questions as
children are more likely to produce an
erroneous response then when their asked
nonleading, direct questions.
6) An interviewer who provides approving
statements to inaccurate information or
disapproving statements to accurate
information can elicit further inaccurate
information from child witnesses.
7) Direct Questions that require yes or no
responses or use a forced-choice format are
particularly problematic for preschoolers.
8) These types of questions rely on recognition rather than recall, thus increasing the likelihood of error.
8) Using recall (eg. “ tell me everything you
remember”) May elicit brief responses, but
those responses are more likely to be accurate.

Question 28

Should anatomically correct dolls
be used

• PROS

Answer 28

(1) When direct questions were posed, 
children 3 to 6 years old were more 
likely to use the dolls to re-enact
 what occurred than To report verbally. 
(2)

Question 29

Should anatomically correct dolls
be used

-CONS

x8

Answer 29

(1) Field studies stated
Number of details provided were
comparable in response to open-ended questions, whether or not dolls were used.
(2) Both younger and older children reported
proportionally more “fantastic” details with
the dolls than without.
(3) No standardization for what the dolls should look like.
(4) No standard procedures for scoring the
behaviours that children exhibit when
interacting with the dolls.
(5) No research is available to answer how nonabused versus abused children play with the dolls And whether the groups of children play
with the dolls differently.
(6) Thus, the use of anatomically detailed dolls
for diagnosing sexual abuse can be inaccurate and dangerous.
(7) 7 to 12-year-olds reported more details
verbally than with the dolls.
(8) Younger children were more likely to play with the dolls in a suggestive manner and to contradict details that were reported verbally.

Question 30

Criterion-based content analysis

• MERITS

x3

Answer 30

(1) Recent studies applied 14 criteria to 60 confirmed cases of sexual abuse and 49 unconfirmed cases.
(2) Best criteria that distinguished between the
cases where quantity of details, interactions,
and subjective experience.
(3) Structured-validity analysis has also been
applied to adult statements to distinguish
between truthful and false reports, and studies
report great success.

Question 31

Criterion-based content analysis

• SHORTCOMINGS

x7

Answer 31

(1) Inconsistencies with the number of criteria that need to be present to conclude truthfulness and the different decision rules for reaching a conclusion.
(2) Research has demonstrated that age of the interviewee is positively Correlated with scores
on the CBCA.
(3) Younger children do not possess the cognitive abilities and command of the language to provide as detailed statements as older children.
(4) As a result, truthful statements by younger interviewees may be judged as doubtful because the statements are missing certain CBCA criteria.
(5) Concerns have been raised about the
forensic suitability of the CBCA for discriminating between children’s accounts of real and fabricated events.
(6) They noted that scores are influenced by
both how familiar the event is to the child and how old the child is.
(7) Scores are calculated by using a truth-lie
classification that requires the assessor to classify the statement as truthful or untruthful, based on his own interpretation of the statement; This message is highly subjective and does not ensure inter-rater reliability.

Question 32

Compare issues and differences in lineup identification procedures
between adults and children

x10

Answer 32

(1) Children over age 5 produced
comparable correct identification rates to adult, provided the culprit was present in the lineup.
(2) When the culprit was not in the lineup
(target-absent line up), children produced greater false positives than adults.
(3) Children were more likely to select an innocent person from a lineup and were adults.
(4) In sequential lineups, the gap for false-positive responding between children and adults increased.
(5) Thus, sequential lineup increases false-positive responding with child witnesses.
(6) Whereas for adults the sequential lineup
decreased false-Positive responding.
(7) Children often fail to make an absolute
judgement and thereby produce greater
false positives than adults.
(8) Researchers found correct identification rates decreased following a change in appearance
regardless of the witnesses age and lineup procedure used.
(9) Children had an overall lower correction-rejection rate compared with adults.
(10) When he change in appearance occurs
correct-rejection rates were similar across the two
identification procedures for both children and adults.

Question 33

What are the five criteria suggested by Lindsey and Read to distinguish the validity of a “recovered memory”?

Answer 33

(1) Age of complainant at the time of alleged abuse. It is unlikely that anyone Would have a memory (of Abuse or otherwise) prior To age 2.
(2) Techniques used to recover memory.
Techniques such as hypnosis and guided imagery heighten suggestibility and encourage fantasy.
(3) Similarities of reports across interview sessions. Do the reports become increasingly
more fantastic, or are they similar?
(4) Motivation for Recall. Is the client experiencing other psychological distress and wanting and
answer to explain such feelings?
(5) Time elapsed since the alleged abuse.It may be more difficult to recall abuse that occurred 25 years ago than abuse that took place two years ago.

Question 34

How accurate are children
At describing alleged crime
Perpetrators?

x6

Answer 34

(1) Younger children recall fewer items-one descriptor - than older
children 2.21 descriptors.
(2) Older children recalled more interior facial features, such as freckles and nose, than younger children.
(3) Hair was most frequently mentioned feature by both younger and older children.
(4) Exterior facial descriptors such as hair colour and style were predominate and accurately reported by 10 to 14-year-old and adults.
(5) When it comes to height, weight, and age, children and youth may have considerable difficulty with their estimates of such characteristics.
(6) This could be because children and youth may not understand the relation between height and weight.

Question 35

How accurate are children At describing alleged crime Perpetrators?

• the key factors That influence their descriptions?

x4

Answer 35

(1) Data reveals children are more likely to accept positive, inaccurate information than negative, inaccurate information.
(2) Thus, Negative information was more likely to be rejected and positive information was
more likely to be accepted.
(3) Important for interviewers not to introduce their own biases or inaccurate information when interviewing children.
(4) Children should be asked to describe the culprit in terms of what he Did and looked like by
using a free narrative.

Question 36

Requirements for child

testimony in Canada

Answer 36

(1) Under the new Canada evidence act There is a presumption that children have a capacity to testify.

Question 37

Requirements for child
testimony in Canada

How are the standards tested?

x3

Answer 37

(1) Children are asked simple questions about past events to determine their ability to understand and respond to questions.
(2) Children are requested to promise to tell the truth and testify under such a promise.
(3) No questions are asked about their understanding of the notion of an oath or truth.

Question 38

List four types of

child maltreatment

Answer 38

(1) physical abuse
(2) sexual abuse
(3) emotional maltreatment
(4) 3. Neglect/failure to provide

Question 39

Alternative to children testifying in courts

x3

Answer 39

(1) Child is allowed to provide testimony via a closed-circuit television monitor.
(2) The child may be video-recorded while being
interviewed about the details of the crime. The video may be admitted into evidence, so that the child does not have to repeat the details in court.
(3) Generally, previous statements made by a
witness are considered hearsay and are not
admissible. However, in sexual abuse cases,
judges can apply the rules liberally, and
statements made by the child during the
initial disclosure of the abuse may be
Used as evidence.

Question 40

For children who do testify, what
changes are made to assist them?

x4

Answer 40

(1) A shield/screen to separate the child and defendant so that the child does not see the defendant’s face.
(2) The child may have a support person with him
while providing testimony.
(3) The judge may close the court room to the public/media to protect the privacy of the child. A publication ban prohibiting any information that would identify the complainant or any witnesses
also maybe granted to protect the child’s
identity.
(4) Bill C-2:
Children under the age of 18 can no longer be cross-examined personally by the accused.

Question 41

short-term
effects of physical abuse of children

x5

Answer 41

(1) Internalizing mental health
difficulties such as hopelessness and depression.
(2) Lower academic achievement
(3) Greater perceptual-motor deficits
(4) Lower measured intellectual functioning
(5) Externalizing behaviour such as aggression

Question 42

long-term effects of physical abuse of children

x3

Answer 42

(1) Physically abused persons, especially males, engage in more nonfamilial violence then nonabused persons.
(2) About 30% of physically abused or neglected persons abuse their own children.
(3) Experiencing physical abuse appears
to increase the likelihood of Perpetrating physical abuse.

Question 43

short-term
effects of sexual abuse of children
x4

Answer 43

(1) Lowered self-esteem
(2) Behaviour problems
(3) Inappropriate sexuality
(4) Symptoms consistent with post-Trumatic
stress disorder

Question 44

long-term
effects of sexual abuse of children

x5

Answer 44

(1) Increased risk of family 
problems
(2) Increased risk of alcohol problems & illicit drug use
(3) Neurobiological dysregulation
(4) Dysfunctional behaviours:
- Self-injurious behaviours
- Sexualized behaviour
(5) Psychiatric disorders:
- Interpersonal distrust
- anxiety
- suicide attempts 
- depression

Question 45

Historical child sex abuse cases:
influences on the outcomes in court

Results for jury trials:
x6

Answer 45

(1) Guilty verdicts were lower with older-aged complaints.
(2) Guilty verdicts higher when defendant had a familial relationship rather
than a community connection to the complainant.
(3) When the abuse was accompanied by threats
guilty verdicts were more likely.
(4) Fewer guilty verdicts were obtained when experts provided an opinion for one side or the other.
(5) When an expert testified on behalf of the crown, fewer guilty verdicts were obtained than when there was no expert testifying.
(6) An expert testifying for the defence also
resulted in somewhat fewer convictions than when there was no expert.

Question 46

Historical child sex abuse cases:
influences on the outcomes in court

• Judge-alone trials

x5

Answer 46

(1) Increase in likelihood of acquittal corresponded with the increase in length of delay.
(2) Guilty verdicts more likely when a claim of repression was made than when no repression claim was made.
(3) Judges more likely to reach guilty verdict
when defendent was a family member rather than someone in the community.
(4) Guilty verdicts more likely with more
intrusive sexual abuse.
(5) When defence had an unchallenged expert
testify, guilty verdicts were less likely than if no
expert testified.