Epilogue

• Author: Loree Armstrong Beniuk, Jo-Anne Hughes, and Jack Reynolds
• Pages: 195-198

195

Epilogue

As indicated in the introduction, we set out to write a book that will

ultimately benef‌it children and youth who, for any reason, are required

to give testimony in a criminal courtroom. We will have achieved that if this

book does in fact assist lawyers, judges, and police of‌f‌icers in the course of

their interactions with children and youth in the justice system; and if it

proves useful in the training of those who have newly joined organizations

that provide support for abused children and youth. We have also tried to

create a comprehensive piece for those studying in schools of social work

and in criminology or social psychology programs; for teachers who suspect

or learn that a student has experienced abuse; and for professionals and

politicians who make policy decisions.

Child abuse continues to be a problem of major proportions in Canada.

We acknowledge that progress has been made over the last three decades, as

the experience of children in the courtroom began receiving much-needed

aention through legislative reforms. This began to address the needs of

children called to testify in Canadian criminal courts. It became generally

accepted that, in order for children to be able to provide clear and candid

evidence, the court experience needed to be amended in order to improve

the experience for children and to decrease the likelihood of them being

revictimized by the justice system itself. This was a pivotal shi, as it was

also the beginning of research leading to new understandings of the magni-

tude of the problem of child abuse in Canada, as well as the potential of ser-

ious emotional repercussions for those required to testify in criminal court.