Throughout dependency court proceedings, protecting the rights of children is always the primary objective. Children's statements and/or disclosures of abuse are key pieces of evidence. This page provides information on admissibility standards, legal principles, and the child’s rights, while being mindful of the child’s well-being.
Bench Handbook: Child Witness (PDF - 1,870 KB)
Judicial Council of California (2016)
Offers solutions to challenges in managing child witnesses, evidence from children, and development principles to consider during court proceedings.
The Child Witness in the Courtroom
American Academy of Pediatrics (2017)
Provides background information on legal issues involving children testifying in in court and the impact it may have on children.
Florida’s Dependency Benchbook: Children in Court (PDF - 203 KB)
Florida Courts (2017)
Provides guidelines for having children actively participate in their dependency cases.
The Importance of Conducting In-Camera Testimony of Child Witnesses in Court Proceedings: A Comparative Legal Analysis of Relevant Domestic Relations, Juvenile Justice and Criminal Cases (PDF - 323 KB)
D'Ambra (2014)
Roger Williams University Law Review, 19
Provides analysis of prerecorded testimony of children for use in court proceedings and weighing whether to conduct prerecorded testimony in order to protect the child.