As a professional working to protect children, it is essential to have the skills to recognize and investigate signs of abuse. Child abuse can take many forms, and it is important to be aware of the different types and to be prepared to ask the right questions during an interview. This blog post will help professionals develop the necessary tools to accurately assess the situation and identify any potential signs of abuse. By understanding the different types of child abuse and the questions needed to uncover possible abuse cases, professionals can be better equipped to help children in need. Furthermore, this post will explain what to look for in order to determine if a situation requires a deeper dive and an in-depth interview. Ultimately, this post will provide the necessary guidance to help ensure that children are safe and properly supported in any environment.
Forensic Interviews
Interview Questions for Child Protective Investigators:
Assesses the candidates work experience.
What key questions would you ask a neighbor reporting child abuse?
Evaluates the candidates interviewing and investigative techniques.
How would you manage an aggressive parent under the influence of alcohol?
investigates a candidate’s capacity for handling pressure and performing under pressure
Verbal children – asking questions Avoid asking leading questions. If sexual abuse is suspected, leave detailed questions for professional interviewers. It is best to have a general conversation where the child discloses spontaneously, and note the child’s voice changes, eye contact, breathing patterns and change of subject when describing situations or people. Limit your questions to only what is necessary for you to feel there is reasonable suspicion to make a report, so that the child isn’t put through multiple extensive interviews.
The issue of child sexual abuse in sports demands our attention. Sexual abuse may happen in or outside of domestic setting. Violence also takes place in sports. Children of any age, both boys and girls, who participate in sports can become victims of sexual harassment and abuse. (See more ).
A tragic report about the discovery of several dead bodies in the Enguri River close to the Shamgona village was released by the media today[1]. This information indicates that people living in the Gali region attempted to cross illegally from Georgian-controlled territory into the occupied territories by using the Enguri River[2]. Three of the trespassers died while crossing it, and the fourth remains missing. (See more ).
Why is it important to question/interview a child victim of abuse correctly? It is frequently the case that the child is the only one who can provide a reliable account of what happened. Because the investigation was improperly conducted and the child was improperly questioned, the majority of people accused of child abuse frequently are not found guilty. The legal system needs the minors to be “reliable witnesses” and provide an immediate, accurate, and chronological account of the events. A person who can: Give an account of what happened as fully and accurately as possible can be considered a “reliable witness.” Differentiate between truth and lies. Ask for clarification when they don’t understand a question. Spot and resist leading questions. The truth is that there may be a number of issues that go unnoticed by those conducting the questioning or interview of a child victim or witness. This has a negative effect on the child and may cause them to provide a testimony that is less thorough and trustworthy. For instance, a child’s high level of sensitivity when in strange and unfamiliar surroundings affects the veracity of the information they provide. Additionally, when discussing a delicate subject, poorly worded questions jeopardize the validity of the provided answers. Additionally, a poorly executed interrogation brings back the child’s traumatic memories and causes him or her to feel victimized once more. Always keep in mind that children who are reluctant to discuss their abuse when questioned need to be supported rather than put under pressure. The NICHD model should be applied when questioning or interviewing a child victim or witness in order to obtain their fullest and most accurate testimony. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in the United States uses a structured approach to questioning and interviewing. Although there are many legitimate ways to question or interview children, this approach stands out because it was developed using the results of numerous scientific studies. These studies sought to develop useful guidelines that could enhance the quality of questioning by making use of the body of knowledge on a child’s memory, communication, and social skills. The studies were conducted over a ten-year period with equal participation from lab and field researchers, and they included both laboratory and field experiments. The studies about subjects where there was previously no professional consensus revealed a number of significant findings. For instance, it was discovered that children are capable of recalling events that occur around them. It is possible to obtain trustworthy information from children, but doing so necessitates adhering to a careful investigation process and taking into account the child’s abilities. The level of professionalism displayed by the questioner determines how accurate and thorough the information provided by the child is. The questioner must give the child as little information as possible during questioning in order to get accurate answers. Use open-ended questions, such as “Tell me about what happened,” to encourage the child to provide as much detail as possible. Regardless of age, free association accounts for more than half of the information collected from kids. Compared to information obtained through direct and narrow questions, information obtained through free association was three and a half times more reliable and informative. Younger children can nearly always respond to the questions that are pertinent to the investigation by using free association. Leading questions, which are generally best avoided, are particularly dangerous for children under the age of six. Overall, employing the structured forensic interview protocol developed by the NICHD allows us to greatly enhance the caliber of child questionings or interviews. No other method has produced a similar result. There is agreement regarding a child’s ability and competence when giving a testimony thanks to the studies that were conducted. NICHD enables law enforcement to obtain reliable information from a child victim or witness, which increases the likelihood of a fair and just conviction process. A successful questioning/interview should meet the following criteria: significantly lower the child’s stress levels increase the amount of reliable information given by the child reduce to a minimum the influence of any factors which may lead to the information given by the child being “warped.” Following these criteria is almost comprehensible. Question types and their placement in the NICHD Protocol 1 Open-ended inquiries that invite a free-form narrative include “tell me what happened,” “what happened next?” and other variations. • Inquiries that seek to elaborate or clarify the response, such as “you mentioned… tell me more about that,” etc. 2. Focused questions • What? – e. g. When a child mentions a shirt, ask, “What color was the shirt he was wearing?” g. “who was with him” • Where? – e. g. If the child claims that he was touched, ask “where did he touch you?” When? g. “when did this happen?” • How? – e. g. “how did you get away?” • Why? – e. g. “Why did he hit you?” is a question that should be avoided when speaking to a child who has been the victim of abuse because it suggests that the child was somehow at fault. 3. Closed-ended questions, such as “did he threaten you?” and “yes/no,” as well as multiple-choice questions, such as “e g. “was he standing up or sitting down?” 4. Leading or ambiguous questions, such as “He kissed, isn’t that so?” The NICHD Protocol Structure Introduction Introductions, details on the process, code of conduct, and video/audio recording Rapport-Building Tell me about your interests. Practice in Episodic Memory Recount a memorable occasion from both yesterday and today. The Important Part of the Interview • Free-response questions about their reasons for being there, their consultations with other specialists, any physical indications of abuse, and what others have said (without going into too much detail). • Looking into the events – open-ended inquiries: how did it begin, what precisely occurred, and how did it end? • Making distinctions between the events: “Did this happen just once, or more than once?” and “What happened at the end/at the beginning/other time,” whenever they can remember it best. Break After discussing the information the child provided, the remainder of the lesson is planned. Clarifying questions must be developed and prepared in written form. Eliciting Information Not Mentioned by the Child The pertinent addresses are used if: • You are aware that the child disclosed information or made specific mentions during a conversation. • The child has/had traumas and physical signs of abuse. • The information was given in someone else’s presence. Information Regarding the Disclosure For each event the child describes, ask: Who knows about it? How did they find out? Who was the first to find out? Is there anyone else who knows? Closing Express gratitude for their help. Give out a card with your name, surname, and phone number and ask “is there anything else you think I should know?” “Is there anything you want to tell me?” or “Is there anything you want to ask me?” Potentially “risky” questions should be asked to the young victims/witnesses as late in the questioning process as possible. Neutral Topic Take a few minutes to discuss a neutral topic, such as “What are you going to do today after you leave here?” What should occur • Following the protocol structure • Outlining the purpose and significance of the questioning/interview What should not occur • Beginning the questioning/interview without establishing the rules of behavior and skipping the introduction’ step • Asking a question using the word “why” • Asking suggestive/leading questions • Influencing behavior • Hurrying the child Even when interviewers and questioners are aware of the techniques and rules for questioning and interviewing, they frequently fail to follow them. It’s not simple to learn and hone the art of questioning and interviewing children.
The Georgian Pediatrics Association and the Public Health Foundation of Georgia collaborated to organize the accredited training course for pediatricians and family physicians on March 20 and 27, as well as on April 3, 2021. 18 points were given to training participants within the framework of the Continuing Medical Education Program. (See more ).
Use the question sample links to the left to help you interview children or parents in the most constructive, positive, and responsible way possible to get the information you need to form a reasonable suspicion.
You are in a unique position to assist in protecting children who are being abused or neglected because your work puts you in contact with children and their families. This is why you must report any plausible suspicion of child abuse or neglect in accordance with state law. A child might be more willing to share information with you than with anyone else.
FAQ
What are some questions to ask about abuse?
Has anyone close to you ever threatened or harmed you? Do you feel isolated or controlled by your partner? Does your partner ever try to exert control over you by threatening to harm you or your family?
How do I prepare for Child Protective Services interview?
- Tell me about yourself.
- What made you want to work in CPS?
- What motivates you?
- What are you passionate about?
- Where do you see your career in five years?
- What are your current career goals?
- What is your working style?
- What is your communication style?
What are the 3 types of indicators of abuse?
The three types of indicators to consider are: Physical indicators. Child’s behavioral indicators. Parent’s behavioral indicators.
What are the 5 most common types abuse?
- psychological.
- physical.
- sexual.
- financial.
- emotional.
