When interviewing minors, who should conduct the interview?

When interviewing minors, who should conduct the interview?

• A. A parent of the minor
• B. A police officer on the case
• C. A victim advocate
• D. A trained forensic child interviewer

Answer: (D)

Interviewing minors requires a specialized approach because children are particularly susceptible to suggestion and can become overwhelmed during investigations. The best practice is to have a trained forensic child interviewer conduct the interview. These professionals are trained in developmentally appropriate communication, open-ended questioning, and non-leading prompts, which helps elicit accurate information while protecting the child from re-traumatization. They follow established protocols (such as NICHD or similar evidence-based methods), document the proceedings carefully, and know how to handle disclosures, all of which supports the reliability and admissibility of the child’s account in court. While guardians, victim advocates, or investigators may be present to provide support or pursue the case, they do not typically conduct the formal interview. Parents can unintentionally influence responses; police officers, though skilled in investigations, may lack specialized training in interviewing children. The trained forensic child interviewer is the professional best equipped to obtain a trustworthy, non-coercive account from a minor.

Interviewing minors requires a specialized approach because children are particularly susceptible to suggestion and can become overwhelmed during investigations. The best practice is to have a trained forensic child interviewer conduct the interview. These professionals are trained in developmentally appropriate communication, open-ended questioning, and non-leading prompts, which helps elicit accurate information while protecting the child from re-traumatization. They follow established protocols (such as NICHD or similar evidence-based methods), document the proceedings carefully, and know how to handle disclosures, all of which supports the reliability and admissibility of the child’s account in court.

While guardians, victim advocates, or investigators may be present to provide support or pursue the case, they do not typically conduct the formal interview. Parents can unintentionally influence responses; police officers, though skilled in investigations, may lack specialized training in interviewing children. The trained forensic child interviewer is the professional best equipped to obtain a trustworthy, non-coercive account from a minor.