NCJ Number
201194
Date Published
June 2003
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This handbook presents information regarding the forensic interviewing course called Finding Words, Interviewing Children and Preparing for Court, which was developed by the American Prosecutors Research Institute’s (APRI) National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse in 1998.
Abstract
The goal of the course is to provide comprehensive interview training on a national level to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, child protection workers, and forensic interviewers who work with children who have been sexually abused. The 5-day course was designed by child abuse professionals and offers lessons on interviewing and child development, beginning with more basic lessons and progressing through increasingly advanced knowledge. Pre-course reading materials include topics such as linguistics, child development, memory, and suggestibility. During the course, students must conduct two interviews, one is conducted with a child about a non-abuse issue and the second is conducted with a child actor who portrays an abuse victim. Students must also pass a comprehensive essay examination in order to receive a certificate of completion. The handbook includes answers to frequently asked questions about the course and then describes their project called Half a Nation by 2010, which assists States in establishing their own, certified 5-day courses. States must apply for training as a Finding Words State, and once accepted, must undergo intensive 3-week training. The application is included in the handbook. Finally, State contacts and APRI contacts are provided.