TY - JOUR PY - 2003// TI - Legal interventions for child victims JO - Journal of Traumatic Stress A1 - Whitcomb, Debra SP - 149 EP - 157 VL - 16 IS - 2 N2 - Many commentators have expressed concern over the plight of children in the nation's court system, fearing that child victim/witnesses might suffer significant trauma. In efforts to alleviate this presumed trauma, new laws were passed and traditional procedures were modified. This paper synthesizes available research addressing 2 questions pertaining to the mental health needs of child victims: (1) To what extent are children traumatized by their involvement in the justice system, and (2) What interventions are effective in reducing children's trauma? The review concludes that most children can testify without suffering long-term adverse effects. It also identifies elements of the justice system that appear to heighten stress for children. Finally, it suggests several strategies that might be effective in alleviating that stress.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0894-9867 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1022895106297 ID - ref1 ER -