Child Victims

"Child Victims" explores the range and extent of crimes committed against children, and assesses their impact. The testimony of over 200 children gives voice to their experiences, their views and their needs. The book examines how children attain the status of "victims" in the criminal justice systems. Drawing on their recent research findings, the authors examine each stage of the legal process that a child encounters, from the initial reporting of the offence, through police investigation, to the trial itself. They contrast the specialist response to victims of child abuse with the experiences of children who are victims of other crimes, thrust into an adult system which takes little account of their needs. The text concludes by examining the role of support services and agencies dealing with child victims, and makes a number of key recommendations for future policy.