Child Advocacy Centers: Forensic Interviews of Juvenile Crime Victims

• In Event: Policing Experiences: How they Affect Encounters with Special Classes of Citizens

Abstract

Juveniles are being victimized at an alarming rate, and don’t always telegraph when they are troubled. There are almost 800 child advocacy centers nationwide. One in particular, in Montgomery County PA, conducted 600 forensic interviews on child victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or witnessed abuse in 2015 alone. The need for trained forensic interviewers allows for the child victim to be interviewed one time in an age appropriate way. It happens in a neutral environment to avoid re-victimization. Through a collaborative effort, and with the aid of a technology rich environment, the victim can be interviewed and a multi-disciplinary group of professionals can observe while remaining hidden to prepare an investigation. Forensic interviewers share with police officers, detectives, children and youth caseworkers, and prosecutors all to achieve healing and justice for children and achieve triumph over trauma.

Author

• Beth Sanborn, Holy Family University