Forensic Interview Program

Safe Shores—The DCCAC offers two services through its Forensic Services Program: the forensic interview and the forensic evaluation (or extended forensic interview). The main goal of the Forensic Interview Program mirrors the overall goal of the DCCAC: to minimize and reduce trauma experienced by child and adolescent victims of sexual and physical abuse in connection with the investigative and prosecutorial processes. Therefore, the interview program makes every effort to reduce the number of interviews a child needs to undergo regarding the same allegation of abuse.

What is a Forensic Interview?

A forensic interview is an interview method by which a neutral, trained professional (a forensic interviewer or detective) gathers factual information from a child/adolescent victim through a conversation that takes into account the young victim’s emotional needs and developmental level. The goal of the forensic interview is to gather as many facts as possible about the allegation of abuse in an unbiased, non-threatening, non-leading and child-friendly manner that causes no further trauma to the child/adolescent victim.

How are Interviews Conducted?

The interview program coordinates the convening of the necessary team members at Safe Shores in order to hold one interview that will meet the needs of all Team agencies (MPD, USAO, OAG, CFSA or CNMC). The lead detective or the forensic interviewer will talk with the child while the remaining team members observe the interview via closed-circuit television. Interviews may be videotaped, at the request of MDT members. Videotaping helps eliminate the need for additional interviews. All videotapes of interviews will be in the possession of the requesting team agency. Safe Shores does not keep videotapes of interviews on site.

What is a Forensic Evaluation?

In some cases a child may be unable or unwilling to easily disclose abuse during the initial investigative interview, even though surrounding factors raise a high index of suspicion that abuse has occurred. The forensic evaluation was developed in recognition of the fact that disclosure is a process, not necessarily a single event, and that there is a subset of children who may need more time with a professional in order to present facts that can be used to help make protection, prosecution and treatment planning decisions. In such cases, a forensic evaluation, or extended forensic interview, may best serve the needs of the child victim. The goal of this research-based approach is to better inform the MDT of the likelihood of whether sexual or physical abuse has occurred or remains unable to be determined. The protocol mirrors that of the forensic interview, but is expanded into five separate sessions with a child, and includes an interview with the non-offending caretaker.

Where Will the Interview Occur?

Most interviews are conducted at Safe Shores—The DC Children’s Advocacy Center, which is located at 300 E Street, N.W., within ½ block of the Judiciary Square Station (Courthouse/4th Street exit) on the Red Line of Metrorail. Safe Shores has the capacity to conduct interviews off-site under special circumstances when the child is physically unable to come to the Center.

Confidentiality

All information gathered during a forensic interview/evaluation, including the videotape (if one is made), is part of the police investigation and is protected by confidentiality laws. The videotape may be used as evidence in a court procedure. Only Team members who have agreed to the DCCAC’s Interagency Agreement may observe an interview. Safe Shores will not release any client’s information unless legally required to do so by subpoena or court order.

What Should Parents/Caregivers Know About the Forensic Interview?

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