Final answer:
The outcry witness is the person to whom the child first disclosed the abuse.
Step-by-step explanation:
The outcry witness is the person to whom the child first disclosed the abuse. This witness can play a crucial role in legal proceedings by providing testimony about the child's initial disclosure. The outcry witness is typically someone the child trusts, such as a teacher, counselor, or family member.
For example, in cases involving child abuse, the outcry witness could be a teacher who the child confided in or a family member who the child first told about the abuse. Their testimony can help establish the credibility and validity of the child's disclosure.
Research studies, such as those conducted by Pipe et al. (1996, 2004), have focused on the factors influencing children's eyewitness memory and the reliability of their testimony.