Creating a safe and supportive environment for children to share their experiences is paramount, especially when investigating violent crimes. Child forensic interview rooms serve as the primary setting for these important conversations, where trained forensic interviewers engage with children who may have been victims or witnesses of abuse, violence, or trauma. The design and contents of child forensic interview rooms play a crucial role in facilitating effective communication while prioritizing the child’s well-being and comfort to minimize further trauma.
The design and setup of the interview room can go a long way in establishing trust and rapport with the child, which gives investigators the best chance of learning the facts about alleged crimes or abuse. While the room can’t undo a traumatic experience for the child, it can at least provide a safe, friendly environment for them to describe what happened.
But what makes a great child forensic interview room? It’s not just about bright colors and teddy bears. At Guardify we are fortunate to have four former forensic interviewers on staff. Cumulatively they have interviewed over 11,500 children so we knew they could share what makes the best elements of a forensic interview room. Here’s what they shared:
Personnel
Trained Forensic Interviewer: Hands down the most important element is a trained forensic interviewer who can build rapport with the child, ask non-leading questions in a child friendly manner, and ensure the child feels safe and heard. Forensic interviewers are called to testify as subject matter experts, as an outcry witness, and/or as a fact witness.
Collaborative Multidisciplinary Team: In order for a forensic interviewer to do their job, a collaborative and supportive MDT needs to be in place. Building trust and communicating with the MDT is essential to allow a smooth process for the child.
Comfort and Security:
Warm and inviting: The room should feel welcoming. Harsh lighting and sterile environments can be intimidating and clinical. Avoid anything scary, institutional, or overly stimulating. The goal is to put the child at ease and allow them to be themselves.
Age & Ability Appropriate: The room’s design should be child-centric, but neutral, with no distractions to divert the child’s focus from the interview questions. One of the goals is to help the child feel safe and comfortable. Rooms should avoid any elements that could be intimidating or triggering. Additionally, it should be a space adaptable to children with disabilities.
Seating: Having kid-sized chairs, sofas, or pillows allows the child to be at eye-level with the interviewer and sit in a relaxed position that doesn’t feel confrontational.
Comfort items: Blankets, fidget toys, and coloring supplies can provide comfort and reduce anxiety during a stressful experience.
Evidence Dolls/Drawings: While care must be taken to not lead or suggest details to the child, having available evidence collection tools such as drawing materials or anatomically-correct dolls can provide a way for children to demonstrate things that happened if they are unable to describe events verbally.
Technical Functionality
Observation Room: There should be an adjoining observation room with closed-circuit video so the MDT members involved in the case can watch the interview unobtrusively. This allows the investigators to be nearby if and/or when the forensic interviewer needs to consult with members of the multidisciplinary team.
High Quality Audio-Visual Recording Equipment: High-quality audio and video recording are essential for capturing the interview accurately. Cameras should be unobtrusive, and their purpose explained to the child. Microphones should be sensitive to pick-up vocal interactions. There are several systems on the market designed specifically for CACs, like Intelligent Video Solutions, V2 Advocate, iRecord, and Star Witness.
Proper Lighting and Acoustics: Good lighting and acoustics are essential for creating a conducive environment for communication. Soft lighting and soundproofing help prevent distractions and create a calm atmosphere for the interview. Even with optimal microphone placement in the room, sometimes sounds can be picked up from hallways outside the forensic interview room.
There are several options you can take to mitigate noise pollution coming into your room including: acoustical ceiling tiles, wall-to-wall carpeting, curtains and fabric wall coverings. These will also help absorb any echoes in the room. Noises from hallways or adjoining rooms can be challenging. Sensitive mics can capture foot traffic, like high heels, in an uncarpeted hallway or loud voices from an adjoining room where groups congregate. Consider carpeting for the hallway. Look for ways to mitigate group noise. Can your center manage who is in the room next door during an interview? If you can, avoid having an external wall because you may hear road noise or sounds from an outside AC unit. These will require more investment and effort to muffle.
Guardify for Children’s Advocacy Centers: We might be biased, but keep reading – each of our former forensic interviewers at Guardify was a user of our product first. Once the interview is completed, the forensic interviewer must share or transfer the recording with the appropriate agencies to further the investigation. After providing a safe place for a child to share their traumatic experiences every precaution should be taken to make sure this recording isn’t lost, or worse – falling into the wrong hands. Using physical media methods such as DVDs or jump drives to share forensic interviews not only takes more time and resources but the risk of unlawful access to the interview dramatically increases. Guardify for Children’s Advocacy Centers was built specifically for children’s advocacy centers to share evidence with permission-based security. Interviews are protected in the cloud with CJIS and HIPAA-compliant frameworks. And because Guardify integrates with a variety of recording systems, like Intelligent Video Solutions, V2 Advocate, StarWitness and iRecord, interviews can be accessed in minutes versus waiting hours or days for a DVD recording.
Conclusion
Child forensic interview rooms are instrumental in gathering crucial information from children involved in legal proceedings. By prioritizing the child’s comfort, safety, and emotional well-being, these rooms, and the skilled forensic interviewers, facilitate effective communication while minimizing further trauma.
The design and setup of the interview room can go a long way in establishing trust and rapport with the child, which gives investigators the best chance of learning the facts about alleged crimes or abuse. While the room can’t undo a traumatic experience for the child, it can at least provide a safe, friendly environment for them to describe what happened.
