FORENSIC INTERVIEWS
What is Forensic Interviewing?
Forensic interviews provide children a safe, comfortable, and child-friendly environment to tell their story when they are suspected victims of abuse or witnesses of violence against another person. The forensic interview is held in a one-on-one setting with the child and a trained forensic interviewer and is conducted in a neutral, non-leading way. While the forensic interviewer is talking with the child, other multidisciplinary team members involved in the investigative process (e.g. law enforcement, child protective services) view the interview in a separate room. This allows for the investigative personnel to gather the information they need to determine what happened. This interview process is used to limit the number of times the child is interviewed. By having investigative personnel view the interview while it is happening, we can ensure the child is not interviewed over and over again and eliminate possible re-traumatization the child may experience.
Forensic Interview Room at NMAC
Child Advocacy Center
127 N 2nd St, Harrison, MI 48625
FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS:
Brittany Wood
Email: bwood@mikids.org Phone: (989) 859-0447
Elisha Call
Email: ecall@mikids.org Phone: (989) 544-1708
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FORENSIC INTERVIEWING
Forensic interviews are the foundation of a Child Advocacy Center’s functioning. As an accredited organization with the Nation Children’s Alliance, we participate in an in depth review process that, among other important parts of our work, reviews our forensic interviewing procedures, protocols, and policies. Our Forensic Interviewer has completed specialized trainings in order to work with suspected child victims of crime. Because the forensic interview process may be the beginning of a child’s road toward healing, how they are treated in the initial forensic interview may have significant impact on their ability to respond, and understanding of, the intervention process and/or criminal justice system.