The main argument is that parental/caregiver involvement in the preparation and support of children witnesses should not be overlooked and is, in fact, an integral component of supporting children through the criminal justice process. In making this argument, the authors begin with a review of the psychology literature on parental attachment with a focus on how attachment styles may affect children who act as witnesses in criminal proceedings. Discussions are offered on how children react to stressful situations depending on their attachment systems and on how parental attachment may impact both the stress and memory of children. While there are problems with generalizing the psychological literature on parental attachment to the area of child witnessing, the authors illustrate how family support can function as an important resource for children as they confront the stressful situation of providing courtroom testimony. Moreover, since parental attachment systems impact child stress, the authors argue that parents/caregivers need to be provided the necessary support and guidance that will allow them to be effective support systems for their child witnesses. Indeed, previous research has indicated that the support of the mother is one of the most significant factors affecting child adjustment following the criminal justice process. Barriers to parental involvement are reviewed and include the fact that there is no single statutory body that oversees child witness support and preparation in the United Kingdom. References