White paper on forensic child interviewing: research-based recommendations by the European Association of Psychology and Law
Psychology Crime and Law, vol. 31, pp. 987–1030
Abstract
This white paper consists of evidence-based recommendations for conducting forensic interviews with children. The recommendations are jointly drafted by researchers in child interviewing active within the European Association of Psychology and Law and are focused on cases in which children are interviewed in forensic settings, in particular within investigations of child sexual and/or physical abuse. One particular purpose of the white paper is to assist the growing Barnahus movement in Europe to develop investigative practise that is science-based. The key recommendations entail the expertise required by interviewers, how interviews should be conducted and how interviewers should be trained. Interviewers are advised to use evidence-based interview protocols, engage in hypothesis-testing and record their interviews. The need to prepare the interview well and making efforts to familiarise the child with the interview situation and create rapport as well as acknowledging cultural factors and the possible need for interpretation is underscored, and a recommendation is made not to rely on dolls, body diagrams and the interpretation of drawings in the interviews. Online child interviewing is noted as showing promising results, but more research is warranted before conclusive recommendations can be made. Interviewers should receive specialised training and continuous feedback on their interviews.
Authors 30
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Julia Korkman corresponding
Åbo Akademi University · The European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the United Nations
Affiliation as printed
HEUNI, The European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the United Nations
Åbo Akademi University
Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
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Maastricht University · KU Leuven
Affiliation as printed
Catholic University of Leuven
Maastricht University
Faculty of Law and Criminology, Catholic University of Leuven, Netherlands
Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology, Leiden University
Department of Criminology, Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology, Leiden University, Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
University of Derby
Department of Neuroscience, Psychology & Behaviour, University of Derby, UK
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Affiliation as printed
Université de Montréal
Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
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Affiliation as printed
Åbo Akademi University
Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
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Affiliation as printed
School of Psychology, University of Chester
School of Psychology, University of Chester, Chester, UK
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Affiliation as printed
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Portsmouth
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
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Affiliation as printed
Psychology, New York University Shanghai
Psychology, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, China
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Affiliation as printed
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Faculty of Law, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Royal Holloway University of London
Affiliation as printed
Royal Holloway University of London
Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London, UK
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Affiliation as printed
School of Psychology, Deakin University
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
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University of California, Davis
Affiliation as printed
University of California Davis
Department of Linguistics, University of California Davis, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University
Centre for Investigative Interviewing, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
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Psychologische Hochschule Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Psychologische Hochschule Berlin
Department of Forensic Psychology, Psychologische Hochschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Forensic Psychology Consultancy, OGB Consulting
Forensic Psychology Consultancy, OGB Consulting, Glasgow, Scotland
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Helsinki University Hospital · Helsinki Children's Hospital
Affiliation as printed
Helsinki University Hospital
Forensic Psychology Center for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
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Affiliation as printed
School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University
School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Estonia
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Tallaght University Hospital · Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin
Affiliation as printed
Children’s Health Ireland
The Alders Unit, Children's Health Ireland at Tallaght, Children's Health Ireland, Ireland
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University of California, Irvine
Affiliation as printed
University of California
Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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Åbo Akademi University · Helsinki University Hospital · Helsinki Children's Hospital
Affiliation as printed
Helsinki University Hospital
Åbo Akademi University
Forensic Psychology Center for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
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Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Affiliation as printed
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
CEDH - Research Centre for Human Development, FEP - Faculdade de Educação e Psicologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
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Affiliation as printed
School of Business & Social Sciences, Colby-Sawyer College
School of Business & Social Sciences, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Education and Applied Science, University of Gloucestershire
bb Education and Applied Science, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester, UK
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Affiliation as printed
Cornell University
cc Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Universitas Indonesia
dd Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia
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Affiliation as printed
The University of Sydney
ee School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Affiliation as printed
Psychology, University of Winchester
ff Psychology, University of Winchester, Winchester, UK
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Affiliation as printed
Psicologia, IUSTO (Istituto Universitario Salesiano Rebaudengo di Torino)
gg Psicologia, IUSTO (Istituto Universitario Salesiano Rebaudengo di Torino), Turin, Italy
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Psychologische Hochschule Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Psychologische Hochschule Berlin
Department of Forensic Psychology, Psychologische Hochschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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