Review of Child Forensic Interviews
Often attorneys involved in criminal, juvenile, or family court matters in which there are allegations that a child has been abused seek feedback on the quality of the interview conducted with the child. Over the past decade I have reviewed many videos or DVDs of an interview, along with other relevant documents, and provided to a prosecutor or defense counsel my opinions regarding his/her case. Often I have testified about my findings on child forensic interviews. My reviews are informed by the Practice Guidelines for Forensic Interviewing in Cases of Suspected Child Abuse developed by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (2012), as well as by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts' Guidelines for Court-involved Therapy (2010). I do not offer an opinion as to the ultimate question before the judge or jury in these matters.