justamommy
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I used to transcribe the forensic child interviews for a local child abuse prevention and intervention program.
The interviewer in that clip was asking leading questions and presenting scenarios when she wasn't supposed to do that, nor is she supposed to challenge the child on what is the truth or not.
Typically, the interviewer most often she starts with asking the child about him or herself, what they like to do, favorite TV shows, what they like (or dislike) about school, their friends, etc. They then segue into asking the child to describe what happened during [kidnapping, abuse, etc] in their own words and the child is allowed to do so uninterrupted. After that the interviewer will ask clarifying questions trying to get more details and determine consistency. If a child has been coached or, sometimes in the case of older teens, lying, this will come out.
The interviewer isn't supposed to put words in a child's mouth - that can ruin the child as a potential witness - and if the child starts crying and retreats into repeating things like "I don't know" the interview ends or the child is given a break.
That interviewer grossly overstepped her bounds and was pushing that child too far.
Thank you for that. I was hoping that this lady was just way out of line. I was hoping that she was in the minority.