The Center for Ċhild Protection has been conducting forensic interviews with suspected child victims of abuse since 1978, with videotaping in place since 1983. The forensic interview protocol is described here, including interview phases, use of anatomically detailed dolls, use of open-ended versus direct questioning, and use of strategies to cope with avoidant children. Supervision, quality assurance, and peer review procedures are described and discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. (1995). Practice guidelines—use of anatomical dolls in child sexual abuse assessments. Chicago: Author.
2.
Berliner, L.
, & Conte, J. (1993). Sexual abuse evaluations: Conceptual and empirical obstacles. Child Abuse and Neglect, 17, 112-125.
3.
Berliner, L.
, Stephenson, C., & Stern, P. (1992). Commentary—should investigative interviews of children be videotaped. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 7(2), 277-288.
4.
Ceci, S.
, & Bruck, M. (1993). Suggestibility of the child witness: A historical review and synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 7(2), 403-439.
5.
DeLoache, J.
, & Marzolf, D. (1995). The use of dolls to interview young children: Issues of symbolic representation. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 60, 155-173.
6.
Everson, M.
, & Boat, B. (1994). Putting the anatomical doll controversy in perspective: An examination of the major uses and criticisms of the dolls in child sexual abuse evaluations. Child Abuse and Neglect, 18(2), 113-129.
7.
Garner, H. G.
(1988). Helping others through teamwork: A handbook for professionals. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.
8.
Goodman, G.
, & Bottoms, B. (Ed.). (1993). Child victims, child witnesses—understanding and improving testimony. New York: Guilford.
9.
Goodman, G.
, & Saywitz, K. (1994). Memories of abuse, interviewing children when sexual abuse is suspected. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 3(4), 645-659.
10.
Greenspan, R.
, Hanfling, S., Parker, E., Primm, S., & Waldfogel, D. (1991). Supervision of experienced agency workers: A descriptive study. Clinical Supervisor, 9(2), 31-42.
11.
Herman-Barretta, A.
(1993). On the development of a model of supervision for licensed social work practitioners. Clinical Supervisor, 11(2), 55-64.
12.
Home Office and Department of Health
. (1992). Memorandum of good practice on videorecording interviews with child witnesses for criminal proceedings. London: Author.
13.
MacFarlane, K.
, Feldmeth, J., Saywitz, K., Damon, L., Krebs, S., & Dugan, M. (1988). The clinical interview. Los Angeles: Guilford.
14.
Mead, J.
, Balch, G. & Westgate, D. (1987). Investigating child abuse. Fullerton, CA: R. C. Law Co., Inc.
15.
Reed, L.
(1993). Enhancing children's resistance to misleading questions during forensic interviews. APSAC Advisor, 6(2), 3-8.
16.
Saywitz, K.
, Goodman, G., Nicholas, E., & Moan, S. (1991). Children's memories of a physical examination involving genital touch. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59(5), 682-691.
17.
Sgroi, S.
(Ed.). (1988). Vulnerable populations: Evaluation and treatment of sexually abused children and adult survivors. Vol. I. New York: Free Press.
