Simply put, whatever the MDT does or does not do as part of the forensic interviewing process, including peer review, will be attacked by defense counsel.
The importance of the prosecutor’s opening statement in a case of child abuse cannot be overstated.At the close of voire dire, which can be a lengthy process,jurors are anxious to see what the case is really about and many jurors will develop a bias in favor of or opposed to the government’s case based on the prosecutor’s opening statement. Although an opening statement is not an argument for finding a defendant guilty, it can be equally persuasive
The importance of the prosecutor’s opening statement in a case of child abuse cannot be overstated
In Giles v.California,2008 U.S. Lexis 5264, 1 (U. S. June 25, 2008), the United States Supreme Court, in a deeply fractured opinion, held that the forfeiture by wrongdoing exception to confrontation could only be used to admit testimonial out-of-court statements when the prosecutor could show the defendant acted intentionally with the purpose of causing the witness to be unavailable to testify at trial.
Testifying in court is often stressful for children. Numerous studies document that children have very little, if any, understanding of legal processes
Interviews of alleged child abuse victims and witnesses are often the primary source of information on possible criminal activities
Zero Abuse Project is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to the elimination of child sexual abuse. Our programs are designed to provide training and education to professionals and students, and to help transform institutions to effectively prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse.
