Courtroom designed with children in mind

LawNow, Feb-March, 2003 by Marsha Mildon

Starting in March 2003, children who have to testify at criminal trials in Edmonton will have the benefit of child-friendly facilities that will help make the frightening and intimidating experience easier.

The Provincial Court facilities include a child-friendly waiting room with its own washroom, snack fridge, stuffed toys and a computer for use by the children. The courtroom also is adapted to be more child-friendly courtroom with a back entrance for the child. This project is the result of a partnership between Alberta Justice, Alberta Solicitor General, the Edmonton Police Service, the Zebra Child Protection Centre, and the John Howard Society's Victims' Assistance Program.

"Testifying in a court case is a stressful situation for anybody. This stress is only heightened for a child," said Dave Hancock, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. "We want to make the court process less intimidating for these children."

"These are brave kids, but they are still victims and need as much support as we can give them," said Heather Forsyth, Alberta Solicitor General.

In addition to modifications to the courtroom that will prevent the child victim from seeing the accused while testifying, the courtroom and waiting room are also wired for two-way communication for the rare instances where a child is unable to testify in the courtroom. The room will also have stuffed animals donated by the Edmonton Police Foundation, and toys made by inmates at the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre.

"Hopefully the toys will be just what children need to distract them from the stress of the situation," said Forsyth.

Funding for the modifications to the waiting room and courtroom is a result of a $10,000 donation from the Edmonton Police Foundation and $24,000 of a $50,000 federal Victims Assistance Grant. A portion of this grant is also being used to host victim awareness training sessions in every Crown Prosecutor Office across the province.

A similar project to create a child-friendly waiting room and a modified witness box is underway in the Court of Queen's Bench.