Going to Court
Vulnerable Victims of Crime: Making it Easier to Testify in Court 
Participating in the criminal justice system can be a traumatic or frightening experience for any victim of crime. This is especially true for children and other vulnerable persons. Although the law has had protections in place for them, additional protections have been added, making it easier now to testify in court.
Who are vulnerable victims of crime?
Vulnerable victims are children under 18 years, and any victim or witness with a mental or physical disability that impairs their ability to testify. Vulnerable victims are automatically eligible for testimonial aids and other protections. Other victims may also apply, and the Court will decide if they are eligible for the protections by considering their age, the nature of the offence, and their relationship to the accused.
At what age may children testify?
Any child victim or witness may be able to testify. Children 14 to 18 years may be "sworn in" to testify in the same way as adults. Children under 14 years may testify on "a promise to tell the truth" if the Court feels they are able to understand and respond to the questions.
What special protections are available to vulnerable victims?
Testimonial Aids
Vulnerable victims may find it hard to tell the Court what happened because the accused or certain persons are in the courtroom. They may ask the Court to let them testify from a place outside the courtroom or from behind a screen. The following testimonial aids may be available:
a) Screen - is a barrier that is placed in front of the vulnerable victim when they testify in the courtroom. Although the victim/witness cannot see the people in the courtroom, except the judge, the people in the courtroom can see them.
b) Closed Circuit TV - is equipment that allows two-way communication, both visual and oral, between a victim who is testifying from a special room outside of the courtroom and the people in the courtroom.
Court Support Person
This is a person who accompanies a vulnerable victim to court to help him or her feel comfortable and safe. A vulnerable victim may ask the Court to have a court support person. This may be a family member or friend, or a Victim Services Court Support Volunteer. Support persons cannot answer questions for the victim witness, and cannot be someone who is also a witness in the same proceedings.
Publication Bans
The Court may order that the media and others not publish, broadcast or transmit in any way, information that can identify a victim or witness. This protection is mandatory for witnesses under the age of 18 years and for victims of any age in violent or sexual offences. Other victims may request a publication ban and the Court may grant the request.
Videotaped Evidence
The Court may admit a videotape of a vulnerable victim’s complaint to the police about what happened. This spares them from having to retell their story. However, the vulnerable victim must be present in Court to state that everything on the tape is the truth and the defence counsel may ask the victim questions about the content of the videotape.
Exclusion of the Public
The Court may require that all or some of the public leave the courtroom during all or part of the court proceedings.
Cross-Examination by Accused
When people accused of a crime choose to represent themselves, the Court will not allow them to question children under 18 years. The Court would instead appoint a lawyer to conduct the cross-examination of the young person. This is also a mandatory protection for victims of criminal harassment and sexual offences.
How do vulnerable victims request these protections?
With the exception of videotaped evidence, vulnerable victims and/or their parents/guardians must apply to the Court for these protections. They can advise the Victim Services Coordinator, Crown prosecutor or the presiding judge at any time prior to or during the criminal proceedings. The Court will usually grant the application to those persons eligible for the protections; however, the Court may deny these protections where it thinks that they would harm the justice process.
Where can victims and witnesses go to ask for more information or help?
Children and their parents/guardians, and other vulnerable victims can turn to Victim Services for help and support throughout the court process. Victim Services will also brief victims and their families after any court proceeding and explain what has happened. For more information about assistance for vulnerable victims, contact the nearest Department of Public Safety, Victim Services office:
Bathurst……………...... 547-2924
Burton………………..… 357-4035
Campbellton…………... 789-2388
Edmundston…………... 735-2543
Fredericton……………. 453-2768
Grand Falls…………… 473-7706
Miramichi……………… 627-4065
Moncton………………. 856-2875
Richibucto…………….. 523-7150
Saint John…………..... 658-3742
Shediac……………...... 533-9100
St. Stephen………....... 466-7414
Tracadie-Sheila…........ 394-3690
Woodstock……………. 325-4422
Other resources that may be helpful to vulnerable victims and witnesses include:
“Services for Victims of Crime”
“Victim Impact Statements”
“Picture this…a guide to the criminal justice system”
“Being a Witness”
Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB) is a non-profit organization. Its goal is to provide New Brunswickers with information on the law. PLEIS-NB receives funding and in-kind support from the Department of Justice Canada, the New Brunswick Law Foundation and the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Consumer Affairs. We gratefully acknowledge the collaboration of the New Brunswick Department of Public Safety, Victim Services in the production of this pamphlet and the contribution of the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Consumer Affairs, Court Services Division and the Office of the Attorney General, Public Prosecutions Branch.
Jointly Published by:
Public Legal Education and
Information Service of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB
E3B 5H1
Telephone: (506) 453-5369
Fax: (506) 462-5193
Email: pleisnb@web.ca
http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca
and
New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB
E3B 5H1
www.gnb.ca/publicsafety
January 2007
ISBN 978-1-55396-933-4
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Disclaimer: Please note that our website contains general information about the law. This is not a complete statement of the law on particular topics. We try to update our publications often, but laws change frequently so it is important for you to check to make sure the information is up to date. The information in our publications is not a substitute for legal advice. To receive legal advice about your specific situation, you need to speak to a lawyer.
