NCJ Number
166621
Date Published
1996
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video notes the importance of properly interviewing and interrogating suspects in child abuse investigations and the need to obtain an admissible statement.
Abstract
In the conduct of interview and interrogation, questioners need to cover all bases, follow statutory guidelines, and collect as much information as possible about the suspect. In addition, questioners need to maintain their objectivity, make the offender comfortable so he or she will talk more, introduce allegations gradually, assess the credibility of the suspect's explanation, and insist on the truth. Even though each suspect is different, suspects can be generally characterized as acute or chronic physical abusers and as situational or preferential child sexual molesters. An effective interview approach is based on the use of available tools, the choice of an appropriate setting (police department or in the home), a decision as to who will be present, and anticipation of the interview's progression. A proper and sufficiently complete statement from the suspect will diminish the requirement for the child to testify in court.