Evidence-based Child Forensic Interviewing

Interviewers face a dilemma when questioning children in a forensic context--an inherent mismatch between the needs of the legal system and the capabilities of young children. This is especially problematic when legal decisions with potentially serious consequences depend on the results of the interview, such as in cases involving eyewitness memory, divorce, and allegations of abuse and neglect. Without accommodations to a child's developmental level, interviews can result in false reports, miscommunication, and misinterpretation, despite an interviewer's best intentions. Evidence-based Child Forensic Interviewing addresses this discrepancy and presents an innovative approach to close the gap by providing the scaffolding, structure, and guidance children need to perform optimally. Created by Drs. Karen J. Saywitz and Lorinda B. Camparo and outlined in this guide, the Developmental Narrative Elaboration (DNE) Interview is an evidence-based step-by-step process and set of techniques for forensic contexts designed to help children ages 3-12 accurately tell as much as they can about their experiences and perceptions. The DNE is comprised of a developmentally sensitive core template and optional techniques that can be embedded at the interviewer's discretion as cases unfold. This book reviews the relevant research and then, with sample language, transcripts, and suggested activities, details a three-phased interview with examples. This empirically supported guide is designed to meet the needs of both novice and seasoned professionals in mental health, social service, law enforcement, and the legal system when children's input is needed for legal and social-service decision making.

Karen J. Saywitz, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA School of Medicine. For 20 years she has trained students in medicine, psychology, social work, nursing, and law on the development of children and adolescents and directed programs providing mental health services to children and families in the public sector. Dr. Saywitz is past-president of the American Psychological Association's Division of Child, Youth and Family Services. Lorinda B. Camparo, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology at Whittier College, where she has taught and conducted research on child forensic interviewing with undergraduate students since 1997. She has been an active member of the Executive Committee for The Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice (APA Division 37) for the past 15 years, serving as Program Chair for the millennium convention, Editor of The Advocate, and Member-at-Large for Communication & Technology.