A forensic interview is a specialized, child-led conversation designed to elicit information about suspected abuse in a safe, neutral, and legally sound environment. The process begins long before a family arrives at the center, typically triggered by a report of suspected abuse to law enforcement or the Department of Human Resources (DHR). Once an officer completes an Incident and Offense (I&O) report and shares those findings with DHR, a Child Abuse and Neglect (CA/N) report is generated or vice versa. One of these investigative agencies then contacts the Children’s Advocacy Center to schedule a specific date and time for an interview, ensuring that all necessary team members can be present to witness the child’s statement simultaneously.
On the day of the interview, the child and their non-offending caregiver meet with a dedicated advocate to complete intake paperwork and legal consent forms. While a guardian must sign this paperwork for children under 16, those 16 and older may sign for themselves. During this time, the advocate performs a vital assessment by talking with the caregiver to identify any verbal or non-verbal cues, such as reluctance, developmental delays, speech impediments, or physical markings, which are then relayed to the interviewer. To build a sense of safety, the advocate provides the child with a tour of the facility, including the interview room itself, providing an opportunity for the child to ask questions and gain a level of comfort with their surroundings.
While the family is being oriented, the forensic interviewer conducts a pre-interview meeting with the investigative team. Law enforcement and DHR provide their respective reports and documentation so the team can discuss the known facts of the case. Once the advocate notifies the interviewer that the family assessment is complete, the interviewer meets with the caregiver and the child to introduce themselves and explain exactly what will happen during the session. The child and interviewer then head to the interview room alone, while the advocate remains with the caregiver to provide support. Inside the room, strategically placed cameras and microphones—designed to be non-disruptive—record the conversation to a secure server. This allows the investigative team to observe the interview from a separate room via a closed-circuit monitoring system without the child ever seeing them.
The interview itself is entirely child-led, meaning the child takes the lead role and the conversation can last anywhere from a few minutes to over two hours. We are committed to ensuring that children are never pressed for information or held in the room against their will; the goal is for them to be as comfortable as possible and to share the truth in their own words. To maintain the integrity of the process, we make sure children never leave the room with more information than they brought in with them. When the child reaches a natural stopping point, the interviewer steps out to allow the child to decompress while checking in with the observation team to see if any further clarification or follow-up questions are needed. After addressing those points, the interviewer wraps up the session and returns the child to their caregiver in the lobby. The process concludes with a post-interview meeting where the interviewer and the investigative team discuss the child’s statements and determine the next steps for the case. The caregiver is then invited to speak with the team to address any concerns or ask questions. It is important to note that the interviewer cannot disclose the specific details of the child’s statement to the caregiver or other individuals at this time, as that information is reserved for the team. Before departing, families often receive school excuses, work excuses, referrals for medical exams, specialized mental health professionals, or other community resources to help them begin their journey toward healing. Once the meeting is finished, the family is free to leave the center and spend the rest of their day together.
If you would like more information on the Walker County Children’s Advocacy Center located in Jasper, Alabama please visit walkercountycac.org or contact us at 205-387-8324. We would love to provide you with additional information or even give you a tour of our facility.
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Noteworthy information: We proudly state that all 3 current employees of the WCCAC are trained forensic interviewers trained in the nationally recognized CAC Model by the National Children’s Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Al.