Is the court process terribly traumatic for child victims? Might it be worse than the abuse itself?
Answer:
If child victims are believed and supported, the court process can actually be a helpful experience for a child. Remember, part of the trauma of sexual assault is the loss of control over one's own body. The court process can give power back to the child. If the child feels empowered by the court process, the outcome can be positive. In many states, such as California, special provisions are made for children victims. In addition, child advocacy centers, where child victims can be interviewed in a child-friendly atmosphere by a skilled and trained victim-witness personnel, can be very reassuring to the child and his or her family.
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