NCJ Number
242810
Journal
International Journal of Police Science and Management Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2013 Pages: 51-60
Date Published
2013
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study aims to examine the themes in abuse-related interviews that trigger investigators to ask specific questions when interviewing children about abuse.
Abstract
Recent research has established that investigative interviewers have difficulty adhering to open-ended questions and instead ask specific questions when interviewing children about abuse. The current study aims to examine the themes in abuse-related interviews that trigger investigators to ask specific questions. Twenty police officers who were authorized to conduct investigative interviews with children completed a mock interview with an expert in child abuse interviewing who had been trained to play the role of an abused child. During the interview, the officers were stopped by a researcher and asked to reflect on why they had asked specific questions. Overall, the results revealed five areas where the officers deviated from open-ended questions. These related to: (1) the identity of the alleged offender; (2) the meaning of terms used by the child to describe genitals; (3) whether or not penetration occurred; (4) the offender's intent and motives; and (5) the timing of the abuse and where it occurred. Each of these themes is discussed, along with the implications for trainers and researchers in child abuse interviewing. (Published Abstract)