Get REIMBURSEMENTCHILD FORENSIC INTERVIEW

The child forensic interviewer ensures that the child is asked age-appropriate questions, and the team ensures that the forensic interviewer gathers accurate and forensically sound information that will be admissible in court.

The recording of the interview will be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The forensic interviewer will complete a written summary report following the interview. Listed agencies involved in the investigation will receive a copy of the report.

Open-ended questioning techniques should be maximized because they invite more complete narrative responses from recall memory and elicit the most accurate information. The use of closed-ended questions (or “recognition” prompts) that encourage guesses and short answers should be minimized.

Steps in the Court Process – After the forensic interview and investigation, the Prosecutor will decide if criminal charges will be filed and if the case should go through the criminal court system. Because every case is different, not every case follows the same steps, which may or may not result in a trial.

Forensic interviewing is a means of gathering information from a victim or witness for use in a legal setting, such as a court hearing. It is a key component of many child protective services investigations.

Forensic Interviews provide children a safe place to tell their story to experts who will listen to them, protect them, and help them heal. The interview typically involves a child speaking with a Forensic Interviewer while Team members observe the interview through a one-way mirror.