Law School examines use of video in sex abuse cases

A study underway at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School is examining the use of video technology to protect child victims in sexual-abuse prosecutions.

The study focuses on the use of videotaping during investigative interviews with children and on taking children’s testimony at trial via closed-circuit television. The Law School’s Institute for Legal Studies is conducting the study with a $55,555 grant awarded by the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance through the state’s Office of Justice Administration.

“Sensitivity to the impact on children involved in crime as victims and witnesses is critical both to the future well-being of the child and the effectiveness of the investigation,” Gov. Tommy Thompson said when he approved the grant, which began July 1. “If we can demonstrate that this technology and approach to cases where children are involved is effective and reduces negative impacts on the child, we can promote these methods statewide.”

Thompson added that dealing with this problem requires cooperation among law enforcement officials, child protective services personnel, prosecutors and judges.

Law professor Howard Erlanger, director of the Institute for Legal Studies, is the project’s principal investigator. Patricia Wolleat, professor of counseling psychology, is advising the project, and Ruth Robarts, lecturer and curriculum assistant at the Law School, is the project’s senior research specialist. UW–Madison law students will assist in the research.

When the study is done, the institute will produce a manual for use by Wisconsin law enforcement and child protective services personnel. The manual will help practitioners learn from current research on the topic and from each other’s experiences using video technology to protect young sexual-abuse victims.

The study also will take into account the legal constraints of using closed-circuit and videotaped testimony while protecting the rights of defendants in child sexual-abuse prosecutions.

“This project reflects the law school’s long-time commitment to the study of ‘Law in Action’ – understanding the law as it is actually practiced,” Erlanger says.