Testifying in court can be difficult for anyone but especially a child victim of sexual abuse who has to be in the same room as the alleged perpetrator.  With hopes of reducing the anxiety encountered when children testify in court, The Children’s Assessment Center has recently completed a DVD developed by VT2 Media Design & Communications entitled, “Preparing Children to Testify in Court."  “Preparing Children to Testify in Court” was developed as a tool to help child sexual abuse victims prepare for testifying in court.  This DVD may also be found beneficial to therapists, social workers, victims’ advocates, law enforcement officers and court officials to help prepare any adolescent or teenage child who may have to testify in court.

The DVD comes with two options: “Preparing Children to Testify in Court” and a “Courtroom Tour."  Both can be navigated through easily when the DVD is set to play. "PREPARING CHILDREN TO TESTIFY IN COURT" is a story told from the point of view of a teenage girl, Sandy, whose case is about to go to trial.  In this vignette, we follow Sandy and her friend as they take a field trip to the courthouse, where they meet and learn the different people involved with a case that goes to trial. 

"COURTROOM TOUR" is a narrated tour of the courtroom as a trial is in progress.  This tour provides details about the various people in the courtroom, what role they play during the trial and what happens during the testimony phase of a trial.  During this tour a child is able to be introduced to people they may encounter during a trial (judge, bailiff, court reporter, prosecutor, jurors, defense attorney, court advocate and defendant).

“Preparing Children to Testify in Court” and the “Courtroom Tour” are complementary to each other and can be used together in one viewing.  Every child who has the courage to disclose their abuse needs as many resources and support that are available to them to aid in their recovery.