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  • Special measures in child sexual abuse cases: views of Australian criminal justice professionals

    Author(s)
    Westera, Nina J
    Powell, Martine B
    Goodman-Delahunty, Jane
    Zajac, Rachel
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Powell, Martine B.
    Year published
    2020
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    We explored Australian criminal justice professionals’ views on how well special measures for child complainants of sexual abuse are working in practice. We interviewed judges, prosecutors, defence counsel and witness assistance officers (n = 43) from four Australian jurisdictions, using a qualitative, non-directive approach. Overall, professionals perceived that special measures had improved evidence-giving processes for child complainants, but they nonetheless noted considerable room for improvement. The four overarching concerns that characterised the professionals’ responses were: (1) a lack of skilled and well-informed ...
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    We explored Australian criminal justice professionals’ views on how well special measures for child complainants of sexual abuse are working in practice. We interviewed judges, prosecutors, defence counsel and witness assistance officers (n = 43) from four Australian jurisdictions, using a qualitative, non-directive approach. Overall, professionals perceived that special measures had improved evidence-giving processes for child complainants, but they nonetheless noted considerable room for improvement. The four overarching concerns that characterised the professionals’ responses were: (1) a lack of skilled and well-informed personnel; (2) widespread problems with technology and logistics; (3) a lack of flexibility in recognising that every witness is different; and (4) potential negative effects of special measures on impact trial fairness.
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    Journal Title
    Current Issues in Criminal Justice
    Volume
    32
    Issue
    2
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1080/10345329.2020.1743904
    Subject
    Criminology
    Sociology
    Applied and developmental psychology
    Forensic psychology
    Social Sciences
    child witnesses
    Royal Commission
    special measures
    Penology
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/397098
    Collection
    • Journal articles

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