research

There is a need for a court preparation program for children who testify and are witnesses. Many youth are invited to attend court, participate in proceedings and sometimes even testify because it helps judges make appropriate and informed decisions on behalf of the child. 

However, that does not mean that testifying in court is easy for them. In fact, many young people report feelings of anxiousness, anger, and frustration in court (Zinn & Slowrivee, 2008). Kids may feel uncomfortable and distressed speaking to judges, lawyers and people they do not know and nervous about the outcome of the case. Additionally, a child might experience intense feelings of self-blame, especially if their siblings have been placed in care and are upset with them for disclosing abuse or neglect (Jenkins, 2008).

Being in court can also be emotionally challenging for a child because it may resurface memories of their past circumstances. Or they may think that if they testify about their maltreatment they won’t be able to go home. The experience can be just as bad for children who are witnesses, as they are further traumatized by the court system and the rigid rules that prevail (Canada Department of Justice). Oftentimes, children in court are asked to recount events and place them in timelines, to estimate measurements and demonstrate other abstract numeracy skills, which they may be too stressed to recall. The judge may also use formalized and sophisticated language, which is hard for a child to understand. As one can imagine, all of this combined can be very overwhelming for a young person.