Анотація

Abstract. The article analyzes the peculiarities of the participation of minor victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings and analyzes the problematic aspects of their participation in criminal proceedings. It was determined that a significant number of child victims and witnesses are in contact with the law in Ukraine and need special protection. Children’s testimony is often essential to the successful prosecution and resolution of criminal proceedings involving minors. However, the training of child victims and witnesses in special programs is very important. It is proposed to use canine therapy to prevent psychological traumatization of minors. It was concluded that it is impractical to determine the minimum age for questioning a child, it is necessary to focus on the child’s development and the best solution would be to involve a psychologist to help solve this issue. It was analyzed that methodological recommendations for working with minor victims and witnesses have been created in Ukraine, and in some regions Child Support Centers based on the Barnhouse system have been opened, the powers of which must be expanded, giving them the opportunity to prepare child victims and witnesses for the court process. There is also a need to open such Centers in all regions of Ukraine. In order to work with minor witnesses and victims, it is necessary to introduce norms that would require the involvement of juvenile investigators, prosecutors and judges in criminal proceedings involving their participation, because working with children requires special skills. It is necessary to unify the norms of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and not divide the mandatory participation of a legal representative of a teacher or psychologist depending on the stage of criminal proceedings. Investigators and judges need to pay attention to the child’s condition, willingness or unwillingness to testify in the presence of an existing representative, and respond immediately to any strange behavioral deviations. Key words: juvenile justice, juvenile victims and witnesses, restorative justice, criminal process, interrogation, child-friendly justice, canine therapy REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY AUTHORED BOOKS

1. Nascondiglio, The Cost of Comfort: Protecting a Criminal Defendant’s Constitutional Rights when Child Witnesses Request Comfort Accommodations, 61 N.Y.L. SCH. L. REV (2016–2017) [in English].
2. Bandurka I O, Do pytannia pro posylennia zakhystu prav ditei–zhertv zlochyni v ta ditei–svidkiv v kryminalnomu sudochynstvi [To the issue of strengthening the protection of the rights of child victims of crimes and child witnesses in criminal proceedings] (2016) [in Ukrainian].

ARTICLES

1. Melton G B, Children’s competency to testify (1981) 5 Law and Human Behavior 73 [in English].
2. Dent H R, Children’s eyewitness evidence: A brief review (1988) 1 Practical Aspects of Memory: Current Research and Issues 101–106 [in English].
3. Hoshovska Yu, Dopyt nepovnolitnikh u kryminalnomu provadzhenni na stadii dosudovoho rozsliduvannia [Interrogation of minors in criminal proceedings at the stage of pre-trial investigation] (2016) 18.2/1 Jurnalul juridic national: teorie şi practică 130–133 [in Ukrainian].
4. Danylovych N V, Osoblyvosti dopytu nepovnolitnikh svidkiv ta poterpilykh [Peculiarities of interrogation of minor witnesses and victims] (2018) BBK 58 [in Ukrainian].
5. Lishchynska-Martyniuk O Yu, Dopyt nepovnolitnoho (malolitnoho) svidka u kryminalnomu protsesi: psykholohichnyi aspekt [Interrogation of a minor (juvenile) witness in a criminal trial: psychological aspect] (2019) Redaktsiina kolehiia 260 [in Ukrainian].
6. Pohorilets O, Kanisterapiia, yak odna z mozhlyvostey̆ vykorystannia sluzhbovykh sobak pislia vstanovlennia ïkh nespromozhnosti nesty sluzhbu Shliakh uspikhu i perspektyvy rozvytku(do 26 richnytsi zasnuvannia Kharkivskoho natsionalnoho universytetu vnutrishnikh sprav) [Canister therapy, as one of the possibilities of using service dogs after establishing their inability to serve. The path to success and development prospects (to the 26th anniversary of the founding of the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs)] (Kharkiv, 2020) [in Ukrainian].
7. Peterson L, Rolls Reutz JA, Hazen AL, Habib A, Williams R, Kids and Teens in Court (KTIC): A Model for Preparing Child Witnesses for Court (2020) 65(1–2) Am J Community Psychol 35–43 [in English].

WEBSITES

1. Prava ditei: yak zakhyshchaty yikh efektyvno? [Children’s rights: how to protect them effectively?] data zvernennia 04.05.2022 [in Ukrainian].
2. Zvit sudiv pershoi instantsii pro rozghliad materialiv kryminalnoho provadzhennia [Report of the courts of first instance on consideration of criminal proceedings materials] data zvernennia 04.05.2022 [in Ukrainian].
3. Zvit pro rezultaty monitorynhu sudovykh protsesiv v Ukraini «Standarty pravosuddia, druzhnoho do dytyny, ta yikh vtilennia v Ukraini» [Report on the results of the monitoring of judicial processes in Ukraine «Standards of child-friendly justice and their implementation in Ukraine» (criminal aspect)] (kryminalnyi aspekt) (2021) data zvernennia 04.05.2022 [in Ukrainian].
4. Metodychni rekomendatsii shchodo opytuvannia ditei, shcho staly svidkamy ta/abo zhertvamy nasylstva, a takozh vchynyly nasylstvo [Methodological recommendations for interviewing children who witnessed and/or became victims of violence, as well as committed violence] data zvernennia 04.05.2022 [in Ukrainian].
5. U Kyievi zapratsiuvav Tsentr zakhystu ditei za modelliu Barnakhus [The Child Protection Center based on the Barnahus model was launched in Kyiv] data zvernennia 04.05.2022 [in Ukrainian].