Children's Testimony Second Edition

“Academics will value the full coverage of research which is relevant to this topic and professional practitioners will learn from both research- and practice-oriented discussions about how best to help children talk about distressing experiences. Policy-makers should benefit from an enhanced understanding of what is required to enable children’s effective contribution as witnesses in the criminal justice system and it is to be hoped that if prosecution and defence lawyers read this book they will develop a better appreciation of how to approach child witnesses in the interests of achieving a just outcome in criminal trials.” (Child & Family Social Work, 20 December 2013)

Upon its initial publication, Children's Testimony garnered widespread acclaim as a valuable resource for academics and practitioners alike. The second edition reflects the substantial progress made in the field over the past decade and includes the results of ongoing international research.

To ensure that information is topical and directly relevant to practitioners, the contributors include a range of internationally-recognized experts-- psychologists, law enforcement representatives, lawyers, clinicians, expert witnesses, and experienced investigative interviewer trainers. The findings are presented in succinct, highly focused chapters to further enhance clarity and accessibility. The articles cover such topics as critical foundational information; issues pertaining to the cognitive, emotional, and developmental factors affecting children's ability to describe experiences are addressed; and a chronology of the relevant elements of an investigation from initial findings and meetings through post-interview review.

The second edition of Children's Testimony is an essential resource for lawyers, judges, interviewers and investigators, expert witnesses, social workers, academics and researchers working in forensic contexts with the testimony of children.

Michael E. Lamb is Head of the Department of Social and Developmental Psychology at the University of Cambridge, UK.

David J. La Rooy holds a Research Lectureship funded by the Scottish Institute for Policing Research at the University of Abertay Dundee, where he is responsible for the Forensic Psychobiology Degree.

Lindsay C. Malloy is Assistant Professor of Legal and Developmental Psychology at Florida International University, US.

Carmit Katz is Research Associate in Applied Developmental Psychology at the University of Cambridge, UK.