Sexting among university students: Relation with age, sex and self-esteem

Abstract

The testimony of children in sexual crimes has been a subject investigated, but its study is not frequent when children are called as witnesses. The objective of this investigation was to analyze the interrogation and cross-examination questions made to children when they testify presuming victims of sexual crimes. It is a qualitative study, under a Narrative Design. The questions were obtained from eight videos of children giving testimony in oral hearing. The units of analysis were the questions asked by the Office of the Prosecutor, Defense, Public Prosecutor and the Judge in the practice of the cross-examination and cross-examination. There were 1126 questions, classified into two guiding categories: types of questions and support elements. The data was analyzed with Atlas Ti software. Regarding the types of questions, the following codes were generated: Frequent and necessary questions, questions of specific facts, forbidden and inadequate questions, clarifying questions of the Judge, questions of opinion of the child and questions objected. And regarding the support elements, electronic media, games, anatomical drawings, pictures and videos. The investigation shows that judicial actors must not only consider the way in which they ask questions, in order to comply with the minimum legal standards, but that the children be considered as a psychological subject, whose integral welfare should be preserved, so it is suggested to encourage training in those who question.