CHILDREN AND THE LAW
...The Child Witness
......The Victim Advocate-Support Person
.........Support Person-Child Advocate
............Criminal Proceedings
11 Cards On This Topic:

Presence in court of supporting person for prosecuting witness.

Court shall take special precautions for young victims of certain crimes.

Minor prosecution witness appearing before grand jury may choose support person at DA's discretion.

Minor prosecution witness appearing before grand jury; support person's duty of confidentiality and admonishment not to influence witness.

Presence of a 2d person at the stand does not require the jury to infer that the support person believes and endorses the witness's testimony, so it does not ••necessarily•• bolster the witness's testimony.

D’s confrontation right not violated by mother sitting next to testifying child victim.

Hearing on 6-year old’s need of support person during child molestation trial waived by D’s failure to request.

Support person at stand requires showing of need; absent articulable deleterious effect on presumption of innocence, does not deprive D of fair trial.

Support person may be recalled to testify to evidence which DA, acting in good faith, fails to discover until after victim has begun to testify.

Mother, who already testified, properly present at prelim as support person for minor victim.

Trial court erred in permitting minor’s mother to remain as support person without complying with statute.