Closed-circuit Television in Cases Involving Child Testimony

This memorandum discusses the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in courtrooms for cases where there will be child testimony. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes recommends that children be allowed to give testimony through CCTV or another mechanism in order to prevent the child witness from being traumatized. Unfortunately, given the funding requirements, few countries have the facilities to use CCTV. Yet, a number of countries have statutes allowing for alternative mechanisms to prevent child victims from seeing the defendant while giving testimony. Some laws providing for the use of CCTV have been challenged, but courts have upheld the laws in nearly every situation.

Topics

• Gender-based violence in general
• Sexual violence and rape

Geographical location

• North America
• United States

Keywords

• cctv
• closed-circuit television
• courtroom
• court practices
• court procedures
• witness protection
• harassment
• child
• women
• rape
• sexual violence
• sexual assault
• judge
• protection
• technology
• camera
• evidence
• testimony
• testify

Year

• 2014

External URL

• Closed-circuit Television in Cases Involving Child Testimony

Type

• Memoranda