Current Practices in the Use of Televised Child Testimony: Questions of Constitutionality and Personal Biases

Abstract

This study surveyed prosecuting attorneys' offices to determine the current practices involving the use of televised testimony of child witnesses. Members (or designates) of the National District Attorneys Association (n = 768) completed questionnaires that assessed whether they had ever used televised child testimony and whether its use had led to an appeal. Respondents who had never used televised testimony were asked to indicate the reason(s) why they had chosen not to use it. Results suggested that televised testimony is not a common practice among respondents in that only 17.1% of the sample used it. If a respondent did use it, it was unlikely to lead to an appeal (only 22.9% of the time). Respondents who had never used this type of testimony reported that a variety of legal and practical restrictions, as well as their own personal beliefs, prevented them from doing so. Results are discussed in terms of the controversy regarding the use of televised testimony.