The Purpose of the Forensic Interview: A Lawyer’s Perspective

Abstract

The forensic interview allows those involved in the criminal justice system to make decisions about what crime or crimes should be charged, who the defendant is, and in which court should the case be heard. Determining what crimes allegedly occurred and when can be a complicated process. The interview provides prosecutors the opportunity to decide whether the child being interviewed is capable of testifying in court. A forensic interview is generally an early step in the prosecution of a criminal case and is used to make decisions at trial. Forensic interviewers need to be familiar with the criminal trial process and how the forensic interview itself as well as the information elicited in that interview are used at trial.