The Importance Of Child Testimony

How much credibility should be given to a child testimony? Oftentimes, children are called to stand as witnesses of the crimes in which they were victimized. Child abuse is not a rare occurrence in our community. In the United States alone, six million or more children endure child abuse every year, and about four to seven of them pass away every day. Such malicious abuse includes not only physical abuse, but also emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and so forth. Victimized children suffer severe physical and mental damages that impose long-lasting stress and trauma (Childhelp, 2015). Consequently, there are many types of legal proceedings in which children engage and testify. Child testimony is very important in all types of legal proceedings because it is so indispensable to their security when they are abused. Children often testify in numerous criminal and civil trials. For instance, when a child is sexually molested by a parent, proceedings are usually held in the juvenile court. In other civil cases, such as divorce, child testimonies play a crucial role when one parent accuses another for child abuse while fighting over for child custody (Myers 2013). Thus, whether or not child testimony can be fully replied upon to resolve child abuse cases is a critical question that must be thoroughly addressed.
On the other hand, studies reveal that questioning style and interview techniques can radically improve the accuracy of child testimonies regarding past events. In other words, they argue that even young children can be reliable witnesses (van Golde 2011). This paper will examine the complexity surrounding child testimony as it can not only entirely misguide cases, but greatly contribute to resolve them as