NCJ Number
100941
Date Published
1985
Length
42 pages
Annotation
Effective interviewing of a sexually abused child requires an understanding of the victim's situation, the contribution of psychological research, preparation considerations, interview techniques, and the validation process (determining if the child is truthful).
Abstract
The interviewer should have knowledge of how the sexual abuse was disclosed, the effects of child sexual abuse, victim psychology, and the intervention system's impact on the child. Interviews must reflect recent research developments in cognitive psychology, children's memory ability, children's suggestibility, and children's language and knowledge of sexuality. Preparation for the interview requires determining who is to conduct the interview, the interview setting, whether the child's parents should be present, how to record the session, and how to include investigatory and evaluative components in the interview. The interview itself involves techniques for getting started, the specific inquiry, methods to elicit further detail, behavioral observations, and ending the session. The validation process consists of evaluating the child's statement, identifying supporting features, and assessing physical and psychological evidence. Appendixes contain suggested contents for an interviewing room and aids to the interviewer. 63 references.