Grounded in the latest clinical and developmental knowledge, this book brings together leading authorities to examine the critical issues that arise when children and adolescents become involved in the justice system. Chapters explore young people’s capacities, competencies, and special vulnerabilities as victims, witnesses, and defendants. Key topics include the reliability of children’s abuse disclosures, eyewitness testimony, interviews, and confessions; the evolving role of the expert witness; the psychological impact of trauma and of legal involvement; factors that shape jurors’ perceptions of children; and what works in rehabilitating juvenile offenders. Policies and practices that are not supported by science are identified, and approaches to improving them are discussed.

This state-of-the-art review of research covers children's understanding of the school, economics, politics, the law and legal processes, gender roles, social class and occupational groupings, racial groups, ethnic groups and national groups.

The field of psychology-law is extremely broad, encompassing a strikingly large range of topic areas in both applied psychology and experimental psychology. Importantly, both applied and experimental psychologists have made meaningful contributions to the psychology-law field, and each of these domains includes a range of well-developed topic areas with robust empirical support. Despite the continued and rapid growth of the field, there is no current and comprehensive resource that provides coverage of the major topic areas in the psychology-law field. The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Law fills this gap and offers an up-to-date, scholarly, and broad overview of psychology-law topics. David DeMatteo and Kyle C. Scherr have brought together a diverse group of highly esteemed applied and experimental researchers and scholars to discuss key topics in the field from both national and international perspectives. The volume is broadly divided into three sections: foundational psychology-law, applied psychology-law, and experimental-psychology-law. The Foundational Psychology-Law section includes chapters that are relevant to both applied psychology and experimental psychology, making a unique contribution that ties together the applied and experimental aspects of the field. The Applied Psychology-Law section provides coverage of topics related to the provision of forensic services (broadly defined) in criminal and civil legal contexts. Lastly, the Experimental Psychology-Law section covers empirically examined legal system issues and outcomes related to victims, offenders, witnesses, attorneys, and triers of fact. With comprehensive coverage of both applied and experimental topic areas and chapters written by a diverse group of well-established psychology-law scholars and emerging future leaders, this Handbook presents emerging, cutting-edge topics in psychology-law that will continue to grow and meaningfully shape future research programs and policy reform.

It is refreshing to see a book such as this which is both broad in its conceptualization of the field of child research and deep in its focus. The volume′s editors are paragons of awareness when it comes to the need for interdisciplinary research and theory to illuminate the lives and experience of children. - James Garbarino, Loyola University Chicago "Covers a satisfying and unprecedentedly wide range of research relating to childhood. The contributors include many eminent international scholars of childhood, making the book a valuable resource for child researchers. Child advocates will also find the book to be invaluable in their efforts to improve children’s well-being, and to change policies and practices for the better." - Anne Smith, University of Otago "A really scintillating collection that will provide a lasting perspective on child studies - stimulating and comprehensive!" - Jonathan Bradshaw, University of York In keeping with global changes in children′s social and legal status, this Handbook includes examination of children as family members, friends, learners, consumers, people of faith, and participants in law and politics. The contributors also discuss the methodological and ethical requirements for research that occurs in natural settings and that enables children themselves to describe their perspective. The book is divided into three parts: Part I: Setting-Specific Issues in Child Research Part II: Population-Specific Issues in Child Research Part III: Methods in Research on Children and Childhood

"Going to court can be frightening and confusing for children, particularly for those already harmed by a traumatic event. These excellent pamphlets explain criminal and civil court procedures with child-friendly language and illustrations. They are designed to help children understand the child witness′ role and court processes. The authors are to be commended for taking on this important task." --Sarah H. Ramsey, Professor of Law and Director, Syracuse University College of Law Every year thousands of cases of child abuse involving young witnesses are referred to the court system. Properly preparing children for the experience of court can minimize the emotional stress and allow them to become more credible witnesses. The first of its kind, Preparing Children for Court, is intended as an aid for social workers, court educators, victim/witness specialists, law enforcement, therapists, and attorneys. Written in an engaging manner, this text divulges the "tricks of the trade" that will allow the child to enter the legal systems without negative consequences. This text is packaged with three children′s workbooks to facilitate the child′s learning and understanding of the court process. Viewed as an essential toolkit, no professional in the field should be without this volume and its accompanying workbooks. Price includes one set of the three workbooks

Working Together for Children provides an account of the systems and processes of multi-agency work with several groups of children and their families. The key philosophy of the book is that such work is inherently complex, and only by understanding and grappling with these complexities can prospective or practising professionals within children's services contribute really effectively to multi-agency working. This second edition contains updated references to legislation and guidance underpinning multi-agency working, as well as fresh configurations of chapters to reflect new ways of categorising needs of, and organising support for, children in a variety of circumstances. New chapters are included for specific groups of children including coverage of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and youth justice. Reflection on practice, to help link policy with practice, is a theme running throughout the book, which uses features to assist the reader including: - information boxes giving further factual details of particular areas related to multi-agency working - reflective exercises including case studies - questions designed to stimulate reflection on issues raised - an appendix providing points to consider and suggestions for the exercises This introduction is for trainee practitioners in childcare or childhood related courses, education, social work, youth work and health care, or for those already working in such settings who are looking to improve their practice.

Presents the findings of a project that was designed to assess current practices used in the handling of criminal court cases involving children as victims/witnesses. The project utilized case file reviews and interviews of participants in recently adjudicated cases to describe current approaches to children in the criminal justice system. The 3 states are: Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. Extensive bibliography. Tables.