Legislative framework
Legislative framework
Agencies will seek to protect the interests of child witnesses while fulfilling their duties to the court and the Crown in the interests of justice. All agencies work within a legislative framework. Important statutes relevant to the treatment of child witnesses are:
This Act sets out how witnesses should give evidence including provisions allowing for support people, communication assistance and the giving of evidence in alternative ways.
This Act sets out rights for all victims of crime, including rights to information throughout the criminal justice process.
Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill
This Act contains provisions relating to the suppression of victims’ and witnesses’ names. The Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill, currently before Parliament, will replace the Criminal Justice Act and will clarify a victim’s entitlement to name suppression.
This Act promotes the well-being of children, young persons, and their families and family groups.
