Forensic Interviewing
What is a Forensic Interview?
Forensic interviews are conducted at the Child Advocacy Center of Lapeer County on behalf of law enforcement and other investigative agencies, when there has been a report of child sexual abuse, serious physical abuse, neglect, or when a child has witnessed a violent crime.
A forensic interview is a structured conversation with a child intended to gather detailed information about events that the child may have experienced or witnessed. It takes place in a neutral, child-friendly location designed to help the child feel comfortable. A forensic interview provides the child with an opportunity to share their experience in their own words. It is not an interrogation, but rather a conversation tailored specifically to the child’s age, development level, and any special needs. Purposes of an interview include:
To obtain information that will either corroborate or refute allegations or suspicions of abuse and neglect.
To obtain information from a child that may be useful in a legal proceeding.
To assess the safety of the child.
To assess the need for medical treatment and psychological care.
Our forensic interviews are conducted by professionals who have received advanced training on the forensic interviewing of child victims/witnesses. The forensic interviewers routinely participate in peer review and attend ongoing professional training to continually develop their skills.
During forensic interviews, investigative partners such as law enforcement, prosecutors, and Children’s Protective Services are able to watch a live feed of the interview in a separate observation room. This concept is a key element of the child advocacy center model of care that better aims to reduce the amount of times a child is interviewed. Recordings of the interview leave the Center with the investigating law enforcement officer to be used in the investigation.
