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Cultural Considerations in Forensic Interviewing of Children

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Forensic Interviews Regarding Child Sexual Abuse

Abstract

The United States is a diverse country. Because forensic interviews are such an integral part of an investigation of alleged child abuse, ensuring that interviews are conducted in manner that minimizes suggestibility and maximizes the chance that true and accurate information is obtained from the child is of utmost importance. While research on forensic interviews and cultural sensitivity is essentially absent our review of the existing literature led us to the following conclusions/recommendations: (1) rapport remains a critical element to the forensic interview and therefore should be carefully established with the child; (2) the child should be interviewed in the language in which s/he is most proficient; (3) when possible and/or necessary existing, translated versions of forensic interviewing protocols should be used; (4) if the use of a translator is necessary, the translator should be trained in forensic interviewing; (5) family or friends should not be used as a translator (expect in the most dire of circumstances); and (6) there may be cultural factors (e.g., shame, guilt, immigration status) that require consideration in the context of forensic interviewing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, MS 0296, Reno, NV, 89557-0296, USA

    Lorraine T. Benuto Ph.D. & Jena Garrick B.A.

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  1. Lorraine T. Benuto Ph.D.
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  2. Jena Garrick B.A.
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Correspondence to Lorraine T. Benuto Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Nevada , Department of Psychology, RENO, Nevada, USA

    William T. O'Donohue

  2. Department of Psychology, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, USA

    Matthew Fanetti

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Benuto, L.T., Garrick, J. (2016). Cultural Considerations in Forensic Interviewing of Children. In: O'Donohue, W., Fanetti, M. (eds) Forensic Interviews Regarding Child Sexual Abuse. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21097-1_20

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