Psychological Evaluation of Child Witnesses

When children are witnesses in criminal matters, there are many factors that affect the reliability of their testimony, that are less important for adult witnesses. 

• First, children are more easily influenced by adult questioners, and respond more to leading questions.
• Second, young children may blend fantasy and reality, or opposing counsel will make the claim that they are blending fantasy and reality.
• Third, the cognitive functioning of a child is more important to testimony than with an adult witness, because of development. A child who is intellectually delayed will be less reliable than an adult with the same delay.
• Fourth, juries may be less inclined to believe a child, so psychological testimony regarding the developmental capabilities of a child witness can affect credibility.
• Fifth, child victims of abuse may have psychological problems that influence their testimony, and children with psychological disturbances are less likely to make good witnesses in any criminal proceeding.

A psychological evaluation of a child witness may be ordered to assess credibility. Beyond that, psychologists may be asked to testify regarding the reliability of child witnesses, or concerning the affects of leading questions, or the presence of psychological problems on credibility.

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