Preparing Children for Court

PART ONE: EDUCATOR INFORMATION: BUILDING A FOUNDATION Introduction Information for Court Educators The Need for a Court Educator Possible Functions of a Court Educator Common Problems Encountered and Learning Basic Rules of Court Suggested Tools and Supplies PART TWO: PREPARING TO PERFORM DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS Case Assessment Phase PART THREE: BASIC FOUNDATION INFORMATION: COMMUNICATING WITH CHILD WITNESSES Basic Information Facts about Children's Language Skills Potential Sources of Information about a Child's Communication Abilities or Limitations Communication Problems with 'Multiple Events' or 'Repeated Act' Cases The Need to 'Anchor' a Witness during a Conversation PART FOUR: MEETING THE PARENT AND CHILD Meeting the Parent and Child PART FIVE: THE COURT EDUCATOR, LAWYER AND THERAPIST What to Look for When Screening a Case for Specialized Intervention Crisis Management versus Therapy The Role of a Therapist in a Court Case What Should a Therapist Ask When Contacted by a Lawyer? Preparation Suggestions PART SIX: A PROSECUTOR'S PERSPECTIVE ON COURT PREPARATION: BOUNDARIES AND ROLES The Role of a Prosecutor - Thomas J Fallon Interdisciplinary Teamwork Time and Effort Vertical versus Horizontal Prosecutor The Charging Decision Preliminary Hearings and Grand Juries Preparing the Child for Court The Prosecutor's Responsibility Working with the Severely Traumatized Child Preparing the Court for the Child Pretrial Motion Practice Introducing Evidence of Other Acts of Abuse The Discovery Process Videotape and Closed Circuit Television Contact with the Defense Negotiations Meeting with the Defense Trial Considerations and Testimonial Tips