Self-Reported Current Practices in Child Forensic Interviewing: Training, Tools, and Pre-Interview Preparation Article

Rivard, JR, Schreiber Compo, N. (2017). Self-Reported Current Practices in Child Forensic Interviewing: Training, Tools, and Pre-Interview Preparation . Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 35(3), 253-268. 10.1002/bsl.2290

cited authors

  • Rivard, JR; Schreiber Compo, N

abstract

  • In child sexual abuse investigations, forensic interviewers within the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) model serve as neutral fact-finders for a team of professionals tasked with investigating and intervening in cases of alleged child sexual abuse. Although empirical evidence has led to the development of best-practice techniques and protocols, there is currently no universally adopted protocol in the field. The present research gathered detailed information from a national sample of real-world child forensic interviewers about their training and current practices, with a specific focus on assessing the information interviewers typically review prior to conducting child forensic interviews. Most notably, the survey revealed a lack of uniformity in interviewing protocols adopted and pre-interview preparation practices. Although rare, some interviewers reported using an allegation-blind interviewing approach, highlighting the need for future research on this and other under-studied techniques. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

authors

publication date

  • May 1, 2017

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 253

end page

  • 268

volume

  • 35

issue

  • 3