RT Article
T1 Lawyers’ Question Repetition and Children’s Responses in Scottish Criminal Courts
JF Journal of interpersonal violence
VO 36
IS 1/2
SP 276
OP 296
A1 Andrews, Samantha J.
A1 Lamb, Michael E. 1953-
A2 Lamb, Michael E. 1953-
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1747364541
AB This study examined the effects of repeated questions (n = 7,968) on fifty-six 5- to 17-year-olds’ testimony in child sexual abuse cases in Scottish criminal courts. We examined transcripts of direct- and cross-examinations, categorizing how lawyers asked repeated questions in court and how children responded. Defense lawyers repeated more questions (39.6% of all questions asked) than prosecutors (30.6%) and repeated questions using more suggestive prompts (52% of their repeated questions) than prosecutors (18%) did. In response, children typically repeated or elaborated on their answers and seldom contradicted themselves. Self-contradictions were most often elicited by repeated suggestive prompts posed by defense lawyers. Younger children were asked more repeated questions than older children, but child age was not associated with the types of questions repeated or with how children responded to repetition. Questions repeated after delays elicited more self-contradictions than questions repeated immediately. Most repeated questions (69.2%) were repeated more than once, yet no “asked-and-answered” objections were ever raised. Overall, the findings suggested that lawyers frequently ask children “risky” repeated questions. Official judicial guidance and training is needed to help identify and limit the inappropriate repetition of questions.
K1 prosecution direct-examination
K1 defense cross-examination
K1 Scotland
K1 Child Sexual Abuse
K1 repeated questions
DO 10.1177/0886260517725739