Assessment of juveniles testimonies’ validity

• Main Authors: Dozortseva E.G., Afanasyeva A.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Moscow State University of Psychology and Education 2015-12-01
• Series: Современная зарубежная психология
• Subjects: testimonies; child and adolescent witnesses; statement validity; statement validity assessment (SVA); Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA); criminal investigation; forensic psychological assessment
• Online Access: http://psyjournals.ru/files/79077/jmfp_2015_3_n6_Dozortseva.pdf

The article presents a review of the English language publications concerning the history and the current state of differential psychological assessment of validity of testimonies produced by child and adolescent victims of crimes. The topicality of the problem in Russia is high due to the tendency of Russian specialists to use methodical means and instruments developed abroad in this sphere for forensic assessments of witness testimony veracity. A system of Statement Validity Analysis (SVA) by means of Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA) and Validity Checklist is described. The results of laboratory and field studies of validity of CBCA criteria on the basis of child and adult witnesses are discussed. The data display a good differentiating capacity of the method, however, a high level of error probability. The researchers recommend implementation of SVA in the criminal investigation process, but not in the forensic assessment. New perspective developments in the field of methods for differentiation of witness statements based on the real experience and fictional are noted. The conclusion is drawn that empirical studies and a special work for adaptation and development of new approaches should precede their implementation into Russian criminal investigation and forensic assessment practice