Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz

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Forensic Interview Program

The goal of a forensic interview is to obtain a statement from a child who may have been abused.   The interview is conducted in a developmentally-sensitive, unbiased and truth seeking manner that will support accurate and fair decision making in the criminal justice and child welfare systems.   Through a series of non-leading questions, the interviewer assesses the child´s developmental, emotional, and communication skills.   The interview is conducted at a level that is consistent with the child´s developmental abilities.

The Multi-Disciplinary Team:

As needed, representatives from the agencies responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse observe the interview, conducted by a Forensic Child Interview Specialist, on closed-circuit television.   These representatives may include: local and/or State Police, a Victim Witness Advocate, an Assistant District Attorney, and an investigator from the Department of Children and Families.

Three Purposes of Forensic Interviewing:

               The main goals of all forensic interviews of children are:

1.   To minimize the trauma of investigation for the child.

Because the child must talk with strangers and may describe extensive details, the investigation can be upsetting.   Trauma is minimized by decreasing the number of times the child is interviewed, and by providing a sensitive and knowledgeable interviewer.

2.   To maintain the integrity of the investigation process.

The goal of the forensic interview is to provide information for decision making in three areas: child protection, law enforcement, and supportive services.   As a result, the information gathered is sensitive to the form of permissible questioning in each area.

3.   To minimize contamination of the child´s memory of the event(s).

The interviewer utilizes techniques that elicit correct information and avoids questions that might lead, influence, change or contaminate the child´s memory of the event(s).

Training and Qualifications:

Forensic interviewers must have a degree in the human service field, criminal justice, or law.   They have several years of experience working with abused children and adolescents.
New interviewers undergo intensive training and a continuous peer review process.