title: Criminal Justice Act 1988, 29 July 1988.
abstract: This UK Act does the following, among other things: 1) facilitates the conviction of alleged child abusers by allowing evidence to be given through a television link by a witness under the age of 14  in cases involving assault, abuse, or sexual misconduct; 2) limits the calling of witnesses under the age of 14 in certain committal hearings for persons accused of committing the above offenses; 3) abolishes the requirement that unsworn evidence given by children be corroborated and that sworn evidence given by children be accompanied by a warning if not corroborated; 4) increases the maximum term of imprisonment for cruelty to children and young persons from two to 10 years; 5) puts the existing Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme on a statutory basis, giving claimants a right to compensation in certain cases, and creating, in addition to a payment for having been the victim of rape, a new payment of 5000 pounds payable to such a victim who becomes pregnant, gives birth to a child, and intends to keep the child; and 6) creates a new offense of possession of an indecent photograph of a child (i.e., a person under the age of 16); previously possession of such a photograph, per se, was not illegal.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D003415:Crime; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D005060:Europe; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011640:Public Policy; D011902:Rape; D012940:Social Problems; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Age Factors; Child Abuse--legal aspects; Child--legal aspects; Crime; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Europe; Legislation; Northern Europe; Population; Population Characteristics; Rape--legal aspects; Social Problems; Social Protection--women; United Kingdom; Youth