Abstract
Recently there has been a proliferation of legislation directed at criminal trial procedures. Many of these so-called reforms have been directed at criminal prosecutions in child sexual abuse cases. In many instances, this legislation was intended to protect the child witness by eliminating traditional means of ascertaining the truth in criminal trials. In Utah, there have been several changes in the prosecution of criminal cases involving children as witnesses or victims. These changes are reflected in a number of statutes. None of these changes has caused the defense bar as much concern as section 77-35-15.5, which allows the visual recording of a statement or testimony of a child victim or witness of sexual or physical abuse. This statute will be discussed in substantial detail in a Note following this Essay. By way of introduction, it is important to recognize several myths that purport to justify the statute's existence.
Recommended Citation
Yengich, Ronald J.
(1986)
"Child Sexual Abuse Cases,"
Utah Law Review: Vol. 1986:
No.
3, Article 2.
Available at:
https://dc.law.utah.edu/ulr/vol1986/iss3/2