Forensic Interview
Forensic Interview
A structured interview conducted for legal purposes, used to accurately and safely collect statements from victims of child abuse or other crimes without leading or influencing their responses.
Details
Forensic Interview
A structured interview professionally conducted to gather information for use in legal proceedings. It is used especially in cases involving child abuse, sexual violence, and domestic violence to accurately obtain victim statements.
Characteristics of Forensic Interviews
Structured Protocols
Forensic interviews follow scientifically validated, systematic protocols. Well-known examples include the NICHD Protocol and the CornerHouse (CARE) Protocol.
Core Principles
The Importance of Child Interviews
Mindy wants to emphasize that forensic interviews with children in particular must be conducted with great sensitivity and care. Children are vulnerable to suggestion, may change their answers in response to repeated questioning, and tend to try to meet adult expectations.
Efforts to Protect Children
Forensic interviewing is a specialized process that seeks to balance uncovering the truth while protecting the psychological safety of the person being interviewed.
💡 Real-Life Example
In a suspected child abuse case, a trained professional asks the child, 'Can you tell me in your own words what happened that day?' — this open-ended, non-leading question is a hallmark of a forensic interview.
This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.