Children as Victims, Witnesses, and Offenders: Psychological Science and the Law

by Bette L. Bottoms (Editor), Cynthia J. Najdowski (Editor), Gail S. Goodman (Editor)

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.

Genres: Psychology

412 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Bette L. Bottoms, Ph.D. (Social Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1992; M.A., Cognitive Psychology, University of Denver, 1989 ; B.A., Psychology, Randolph-Macon Woman's College, 1986), is Professor of Psychology and Dean Emerita of the Honors College at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and has been a fellow of the American Psychological Association since 2003.

Dr. Bottoms is also Founding Editor of Honors in Higher Education, and has served as an Editorial Board Member of Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, Honors in Higher Education; Psychology, Public Policy, & Law, Law & Human Behavior; Child Maltreatment; Behavioral Sciences & the Law; and Journal of Child Sexual Abuse.