Child Sexual Abuse Investigations in Israel: Evaluating Innovative Practices

Concerned about the potentially damaging effects of testifying on young children, scholars have recommended changes to legal and judicial procedures in the United States that would protect defendants' rights while doing less harm to young victims and witnesses. In evaluating such proposals, perhaps much can be learned by analyzing and exploring practices, procedures, and controversies in countries that have different legal histories, precedents, and social policies. By examining innovative reforms that have taken place in countries such as Sweden, Germany, and Israel, for example, it may be possible to develop novel pretrial procedures and alternative means of obtaining testimony from young children.