Upload
robert-pearson
View
214
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Treatment of Child Victims Treatment of Child Victims In the U.S. Criminal Justice In the U.S. Criminal Justice
SystemSystem
Judge Tom C. RawlingsJudge Tom C. RawlingsJuvenile CourtsJuvenile CourtsMiddle CircuitMiddle CircuitSandersville, GeorgiaSandersville, Georgia(478) 553-0012(478) [email protected]@sandersville.netwww.tomrawlings.com www.tomrawlings.com
• Brain cells form in first months of fetal life• Most brain cell connections are made in
the 1st year• Connections decline after this time to age
ten• The connections (synapses) grow and
change as a result of stimulation from the environment
Brain DevelopmentBrain Development
• Early, frequent, and intense stress tunes the brain to set stress regulation mechanisms at high levels. This often results in a child operating in a persisting fear state.
• Under Stress, the Brain• loses ability to take in subtle clues• reverts to “tried & true” behaviors• becomes more automatic & over reactive• is less able to use “higher order” thinking
skills• loses some memory capacity
Brain DevelopmentBrain Development
Major Crimes: Sex OffensesMajor Crimes: Sex Offenses
Child Molestation:Child Molestation: 5-20 years 5-20 years Aggravated Child Molestation: 25-LifeAggravated Child Molestation: 25-Life Enticing a Child for Indecent PurposesEnticing a Child for Indecent Purposes Child Pornography and Internet CrimesChild Pornography and Internet Crimes Statutory Rape: 10-20 yearsStatutory Rape: 10-20 years
Exceptions for younger offendersExceptions for younger offenders
Major Crimes: Sex OffensesMajor Crimes: Sex Offenses
Sex Offender RegistrationSex Offender Registration www.dcor.state.ga.us www.dcor.state.ga.us
Work and Living LimitationsWork and Living Limitations Civil CommitmentCivil Commitment Mandated TherapyMandated Therapy
Major CrimesMajor Crimes
Cruelty to Children:Cruelty to Children: 11stst degree, intentionally causing mental degree, intentionally causing mental
or physical pain, or willfully depriving of or physical pain, or willfully depriving of sustenance to extent child’s health or sustenance to extent child’s health or well-being is endangered: 5-20 yearswell-being is endangered: 5-20 years
22ndnd degree, criminally negligent: 1-10 degree, criminally negligent: 1-10 yearsyears
33rdrd degree, exposing to domestic degree, exposing to domestic violence: misdemeanor but repeat violence: misdemeanor but repeat offenses may be a felonyoffenses may be a felony
Major CrimesMajor Crimes
Reckless Abandonment: 10-25 yearsReckless Abandonment: 10-25 years Willfully abandoning child who diesWillfully abandoning child who dies
Contributing to the Delinquency or Contributing to the Delinquency or Deprivation of a Minor:Deprivation of a Minor: Misdemeanor, but repeat offenses Misdemeanor, but repeat offenses
punished more severelypunished more severely
Protection During Protection During InvestigationInvestigation
Primary concern: Preventing further Primary concern: Preventing further trauma to childtrauma to child
Cornerstone method of interviewingCornerstone method of interviewing Physical examsPhysical exams
Child-friendly environmentChild-friendly environment Non-leading questionsNon-leading questions
Protection During Court Protection During Court ProceedingsProceedings
Problems: Rights of Defendant, Right Problems: Rights of Defendant, Right of Public to Access Trialsof Public to Access Trials
Child Hearsay RuleChild Hearsay Rule Ability to testify outside view of Ability to testify outside view of
defendantdefendant Confrontation clause concernsConfrontation clause concerns
Discretion of Judge to Close HearingsDiscretion of Judge to Close Hearings Victim-witness assistanceVictim-witness assistance
Post-Crime ServicesPost-Crime Services
Social WorkersSocial Workers Non-ProfitsNon-Profits CounselingCounseling Victims’ Compensation FundsVictims’ Compensation Funds
www.cacga.orgwww.cacga.org www.cornerhousemn.org www.cornerhousemn.org