Recall ability increases linearly with age. An interesting adjunct to this finding is that when children are recalling a situation or setting in which they are very familiar, their recall can be as good as an adult s. On tasks that require recognition memory, the difference in memory is not very significant along age lines. This lineup technique therefore should be avoided entirely with children. Better understanding of the events they witness or participate in often accounts for adults increased ability to recall the events.
Many jurisdictions now offer court preparation programs for children.
These programs teach children about the court process and strive to reduce the trauma to children who appear to testify. While there has been some criticism that programs could provide further suggestions to witnesses, most have been designed and are implemented to strictly avoid this possibility and do not discuss the child s individual case. The courses provide basic information about the courtroom setting and the roles of various personnel. Relaxation exercises may also be part of the program. Often, a mock trial with a storybook character is shown to review the experience of testifying and cross-examination.