The Child as Witness: Competency and Credibility

Abstract

The terms competency and credibility are defined as they relate to child witnesses. The criteria employed by the courts in assessing a child's competency to testify are discussed, and research into the effect on children's testimony of limitations of memory, and of suggestibility, susceptibility to external influence, emotional arousal and long delay, is summarized. A systematic approach to the clinical evaluation of credibility is described, and the concept of a specific biopsychosocial syndrome associated with sexual abuse critically discussed.