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Children who are crime victims in Southwest Missouri will now take part in a new program called Kids Court. It's designed to reduce the fear and anxiety children feel whenthey must appear in court and testify. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
IT'S FRIGHTENING FOR SOME YOUNG CRIME VICTIMS TO TALK ABOUT ABUSE OR OTHER CRIMES IN AN UNFAMILIAR SETTING LIKE A COURTROOM, FULL OF UNFAMILIAR ADULTS.
A NEW PROGRAM IN GREENE COUNTY CALLED "KIDS' COURT" IS DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE FEARS.
GREENE COUNTY PROSECUTOR DARRELL MOORE SAYS HE HOPES THE PROGRAM WILL DECREASE THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA THAT SOME CHILDREN EXPERIENCE TESTIFYING IN COURT.
NOW, INSTEAD OF ONE-ON-ONE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE COURT EXPERIENCE, GROUPS OF CHILDREN WILL BE BROUGHT IN TO THE COURTROOM TO INTERACT WITH JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS BEFORE THEIR COURT DATE.
MOORE SAYS IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE CHILDREN TO THE COURT IN A NON-THREATENING WAY.
MOORE SAYS THERE'S ALSO AN ASPECT OF THIS PROGRAM THAT EDUCATES PARENTS AND GUARDIANS.
MOORE SAYS THE NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN, NOT TO PREPARE CHILDREN SO THEY'RE ABLE TO GIVE BETTER TESTIMONY.
THOUGH MOORE SAYS BETTER TESTIMONY IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.
THE KIDS COURT PROGRAM WILL BEGIN IN GREENE COUNTY IN FEBRUARY.
MOORE SAYS IT'S MODELED AFTER A PROGRAM IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR 15 YEARS.
THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE ABOUT 90 GREENE COUNTY CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 17 INITIALLY THOUGH MOORE SAYS HE HOPES TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN ALL OVER SOUTHWEST MISSOURI.
THE PROGRAM WILL BE ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE VICTIM CENTER IN SPRINGFIELD.
