Children as criminal victims

Offences that are directed against children are particularly difficult to investigate and are therefore usually handled by prosecutors with special training and experience.

During the course of the criminal investigations and legal proceedings, every attempt is made to ensure that that children are not subjected to further suffering. In a number of places throughout the country there are special “children’s centres” where doctors, police, social services, etc. are gathered under the same roof so that children do not need to be transported from place to place.

Sessions during which children are interviewed and questioned are conducted by specially trained police in a calm environment. To avoid the child having to be questioned in court, interviews with young children are recorded on video. The videos are then played back during the trial.

Children who have been subjected, for example, to violence and sexual offences may be given their own legal assistants. It is the prosecutor who requests the court to appoint an assistant of this type. The assistant is referred to as a special representative or victim’s representative.