TY - JOUR
T1 - The use of hearsay testimony on behalf of an elder victim of abuse
T2 - A reasonable and necessary alternative under certain circumstances
AU - Dunlap, Emily E.
AU - Hodell, Emily C.
AU - Golding, Jonathan M.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - This commentary supports the use of hearsay testimony (secondhand testimony) exceptions in cases of elder abuse (EA). Given that EA victims are often unavailable for in-court testimony due to (1) a refusal to testify for personal reasons, (2) ethical concerns regarding the impact of in-court testimony on the well-being of the victim, or (3) age-related physical or cognitive impairments, hearsay testimony provides a viable means of protecting and relaying the victim's story to jurors. The benefits of hearsay testimony are discussed in terms of the necessity and reliability of utilizing hearsay as evidence as well as the implications of admitting hearsay testimony in EA cases.
AB - This commentary supports the use of hearsay testimony (secondhand testimony) exceptions in cases of elder abuse (EA). Given that EA victims are often unavailable for in-court testimony due to (1) a refusal to testify for personal reasons, (2) ethical concerns regarding the impact of in-court testimony on the well-being of the victim, or (3) age-related physical or cognitive impairments, hearsay testimony provides a viable means of protecting and relaying the victim's story to jurors. The benefits of hearsay testimony are discussed in terms of the necessity and reliability of utilizing hearsay as evidence as well as the implications of admitting hearsay testimony in EA cases.
KW - Adjudication
KW - Elder abuse
KW - Hearsay testimony
KW - Secondhand testimony
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67649095310&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67649095310&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15228930802199374
DO - 10.1080/15228930802199374
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:67649095310
SN - 1522-8932
VL - 8
SP - 403
EP - 412
JO - Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice
JF - Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice
IS - 4
ER -