ABSTRACT
This chapter concerns issues of children in court, particularly alleged sexual abuse victims/survivors, because such cases are more frequently brought to courts in many countries than other cases of abuse. At the same time, the issues discussed are relevant to courts dealing with other types of child maltreatment. The chapter begins with a review of the problem of child maltreatment, and child sexual abuse in particular, and the courts’ response to the problem in various countries. Then, after describing psychological research related to child witness competency and needs in criminal child sexual abuse cases, it explains problems with courts applying such research and highlights procedural and policy solutions to meet child witnesses’ needs.
