Assessing abuse and safety.

A forensic interview is conducted at the Children’s Advocacy Center when there has been a report to law enforcement or Children’s Protective Services that a child may have been a victim of sexual abuse. Our forensic interviewers are trained in the State of Michigan Forensic Interviewing Protocol.

Forensic interviews are intended to elicit detailed information about a possible event(s) a child may have experienced. Our interview process is developmentally sensitive, unbiased and truth-seeking to support fair and accurate decision-making in the criminal justice and child welfare systems.

Forensic interviews help assess whether a child has been abused, develop a plan for the child’s safety, and lay the groundwork for criminal prosecution of the abuser. The process tests any alternative explanation for the allegation(s) in order to allow for a thorough investigation.

This project was supported by Federal Award 2018-V2-GX-0067 from the Department of Justice, administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Victim Services.