Open AccessDe betrouwbaarheid van verklaringen van kinderen
Author(s) -
Henry Otgaar,
Corine de Ruiter
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pedagogiek
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2468-1652
pISSN - 1567-7109
DOI - 10.5117/ped2020.2.005.otga
Subject(s) - psychology , reliability (semiconductor) , economic justice , social psychology , developmental psychology , law , political science , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
The reliability of children’s testimonies Children’s testimonies about abusive experiences can play a pivotal role in the criminal justice system. This is especially the case when other types of evidence (such as videos, technical traces) are absent. In such cases, it is imperative that children’s testimonies accurately reflect what they have experienced. In the current article, the reliability of children’s statements is discussed. We discuss what children can remember of traumatic incidents and elaborate on how children’s false memories can be relatively easily evoked. Furthermore, we discuss how children can best be interviewed using scientifically supported interview protocols. Children’s testimonies can be decisive in legal decision-making. Hence, it is of the utmost importance that these statements are reliable.