Vulnerable Witnesses within Family and Criminal Proceedings

Protections, Safeguards and Sanctions

Vulnerable Witnesses within Family and Criminal Proceedings cover

Vulnerable Witnesses within Family and Criminal Proceedings

Protections, Safeguards and Sanctions

Description

"...the book fully justifies its title and will earn a well-thumbed place on the bookshelves, not only of children's lawyers, but also of children's guardians and intermediaries who need to understand how the court can, or cannot, assist the vulnerable to give evidence…" Seen and Heard

Are you prepared to protect the vulnerable in court? This book guides you through the rights of witnesses and the duties of advocates in family and criminal proceedings.

Explaining the legal structure currently in place to assist vulnerable individuals, this title covers every stage of proceedings, including the investigation/pre-proceeding, and post-proceedings, whilst also looking at anonymity and protective orders. In addition, it discusses the sanctions available to the court if proper consideration and sufficient protection has not been given to vulnerable people at each stage.

Covering legislation, regulation and authorities which govern these situations, it offers best practice regarding the examination of those who have difficulty understanding their case, by reason of age, circumstance or emotional and psychological difficulties.

Practical help is provided through:
Step-by-step guidance at each stage
Helpful suggestions as to how to approach the hearing at each stage of proceedings
Links to the useful guidance regularly referred to within proceedings including the Advocates Gateway

This title is included in Bloomsbury Professional's Family Law online service.

Table of Contents

1 Summary of the purpose of the handbook
2 General principles as to the examination of witnesses
3 Vulnerable people: pre-proceedings/investigation stage
4 Vulnerable people in the initial stages of proceedings
5 Joint hearings – family and crime
6 Fitness to plead and specific defences arising from being a vulnerable defendant
7 Young defendants and the youth court
8 Intermediaries and ground rules hearings
9 Additional pre-giving evidence considerations for vulnerable witnesses
10 The official solicitor
11 Competence of witnesses in a criminal trial
12 Vulnerable witnesses during a criminal trial
13 Vulnerable defendants during the criminal trial process
14 Jury directions and the judge's summing up
15 Family law

Product details

Published 05 Aug 2019
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 304
ISBN 9781526507259
Imprint Bloomsbury Professional
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Frank Feehan KC

Frank Feehan KC is a family law barrister at 1 Kin…

Author

Caroline Harris

Caroline Harris is a barrister at 1 King's Bench W…

ONLINE RESOURCES

Bloomsbury Collections

This book is available on Bloomsbury Collections where your library has access.

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