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The youth examiner: an Israeli socio‐legal experiment
Author(s) -
EAGLSTEIN A. SOLOMON,
KARNIEL YUVAL
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
children and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-0860
pISSN - 0951-0605
DOI - 10.1111/j.1099-0860.1991.tb00497.x
Subject(s) - suspect , harm , interrogation , witness , cross examination , psychology , law , supreme court , criminology , statute , medical examiner , child abuse , sexual abuse , waiver , political science , suicide prevention , poison control , medicine , medical emergency
SUMMARY: In 1955 an innovative statute was enacted in Israel regarding children's testimony in cases of child sexual abuse. In order to save a child victim, witness or suspect from the psychological harm or anguish of examination and cross‐examination in court and interrogation by police, a ‘youth examiner’ was given the task to collect relevant and necessary evidence from the child. If in his professional opinion harm would come to the child by appearing in court, then the examiner's own account of the evidence became admissible in court. A brief history and administrative description of the position are presented. Survey and anecdotal data, and administrative reporting describe the basic demographic characteristics of the youth examiners. the number of children interviewed, the number of court appearances and the relations with police judges.