Child Sexual Abuse
Victim Sensitive/Forensic Interviewing: When child sexual abuse has been reported it becomes necessary to determine the facts of the case so that charges can be filed, if necessary. The logical place to start is with the child at the heart of the case and the way to start is through the use of a Victim Sensitive (or Forensic) Interview. During this process, a multi-disciplinary team is formed that includes a social worker, Illinois D.C.F.S. personnel, State’s Attorney personnel, and law enforcement officers. In a caring, non-threatening environment, the social worker will conduct an interview of the alleged victim to determine what abuse, if any, has happened to the child. The other members of the team watch the interview via a two-way mirror or video feed.
There are several advantages to using this approach when interviewing a victim. First, it minimizes the stress that the child experiences when disclosing abuse. Secondly, the developmental level of the child is taken into account by a trained professional prior to the interview. This protects against leading or inappropriate questions being asked. Also, the child is not intimidated by having to speak in front of a large group that has come to hear her testimony.
