Date of Award

1992

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Social Work

Keywords

Sociology, Criminology and Penology.

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

In response to legislative changes intended to better facilitate justice for child/victims, the Child Abuse Review Team is an interorganizational innovation implemented to promote formal information exchange between children's aid societies, police services, victim/witness programme and the crown attorney's office. Microsociological findings indicate that DESPITE legislative changes, improved preparation and supports for child/victims, improved co-ordination of information resources for the Crown Attorney's brief, for most cases the truth about a child's sexual victimization is still not heard clearly within the courtroom. A child's level of cognitive and language development is incompatible with legal requirements for hearing evidence. Macrosociological findings suggest medical and legal reluctance toward holding offenders accountable for expressing sexuality with children. Themes of debate about legislative changes polarize around a search for justice and basic rights of an accused to a fair trial which includes the right to confront his accuser. It is suggested that the 'accuser' is not the child/victim, but those mandated to protect the child. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1992 .M256. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 31-04, page: 1597. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1992.

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