Forensic interview

The Forensic Interview is conducted to obtain the child's version of events in the occurrence of sexual abuse, severe physical child abuse, and witnessing of a violent crime. The interview is conducted in a non-threatening and child friendly environment by a nationally trained Forensic Interviewer . Forensic Interviews are observed by other members of the team- usually a law enforcement officer, a DHR social worker, and a CAC staff therapist. Disclosures made during the interview are discussed with the custodial non-offending parent(s)/caregiver(s) after the interview. The Forensic Interviewer conducts Forensic Evaluations with children who are too young, too frightened, or too confused to tell the whole story during the first interview. The goal of the forensic evaluation is to determine the facts of the case in a non-threatening environment. The interviewer conducts the Forensic Evaluation in four to six sessions, giving the child time and a feeling of safety so he/she can tell what has occurred.