Children, Social Science, and the Law

This book provides cutting-edge information available on topics such as child abuse, children's eyewitness testimony, divorce and custody, juvenile crime, and children's rights.

Bette L. Bottoms (Edited by), Margaret Bull Kovera (Edited by), Bradley D. McAuliff (Edited by)

9780521662987, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 20 June 2002

512 pages, 6 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 3.3 cm, 0.92 kg

'… a stimulating overview of current American practice with an exciting emphasis on the impact of community experience and community based interventions.' British Journal of Sociology

This important book broadens our conceptualization of the topic of children and law, addressing a wide-ranging set of issues in need of attention. The authors confront many difficult questions such as: Are the rights that our nation's laws ascribe to children commensurate with their capabilities and needs? How should laws governing the punishment of crime acknowledge developmental differences between adult and juvenile offenders? Throughout the book, the authors consider (a) current laws and policies relating to children; (b) how social science research can test assumptions behind child-relevant laws and policies; (c) ways that courts can become more receptive to social science recommendations; and (d) challenges faced in the 21st century as our society continues its struggle to accommodate children's concerns within our legal system. With its unique integration of psychological research, social policy, and legal analysis, the volume is an important resource for any professional concerned with children and the law.

1. Children, law, social science, and policy: an introduction to the issues Bette L. Bottoms, Margaret Bull Kovera and Bradley D. McAuliff
Part I. Children's Rights, Their Capabilities, and Society's Responsibilities to Children: 2. The personal responsibility and work opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996: what will it mean for children? Brian Wilcox, Rebecca A. Colman and Jennifer M. Wyatt
3. Advocacy for children's rights Mark Small and Susan P. Limber
4. Children's rights and their capacities Melinda Schmidt and N. Dickon Reppucci
5. Children's legal representation in civil litigation Ann M. Haralambie, Ann Nicholson Haralambie and Kari L. Nysse
Part II. Children and Family Change: 6. Termination of parental rights to free children for adoption: conflicts between parents, children, and the state Jeffrey Haugaard and Rosemary J. Avery
7. Child custody at the crossroads: issues for a new century Charlene E. Depner
8. Children of lesbian and gay parents: research, law, and policy Charlotte J. Patterson, Megan Fulcher and Jennifer Wainwright
Part III. Juvenile Aggression and Juvenile Justice: 9. Juvenile transfer to adult court: how can developmental and child psychology inform policy decision making? Randall T. Salekin
10. Youth violence: correlates, interventions and legal implications Carrie S. Fried and N. Dickon Reppucci
11. Capacity, competence, and the juvenile defendant: implications for research and policy Jennifer Woolard
Part IV. Children as Victims and Witnesses: 12. The effects of community violence on children and adolescents: intervention and social policy Steve L. Berman, Wendy K. Silverman and William Kurtines
13. Preventing child abuse and neglect Mia McFarlane and Murray Levine
14. Children's eyewitness memory: true disclosures and false reports Jennifer M. Schaaf, Kristen Weede Alexander, Gail S. Goodman, Simona Ghetti and Robin Edelstein
15. Expert testimony on the suggestibility of children: does it fit? Thomas D. Lyon
16. The status of evidentiary and procedural innovations in Child Abuse Proceedings Bradley D. McAuliff and Margaret Bull Kovera
Part V. Conclusions and Future Decisions: 17. Starting a new generation of research Gary Melton
18. What will it take to bring child-focused law, policy, and research into the 21st century? Concluding thoughts Howard Davidson.

Subject Areas: Criminal or forensic psychology [JMK], Child & developmental psychology [JMC]