The number of child sexual abuse images has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. When child sexual abuse is discovered, a child forensic interview should typically follow. Protocols provide structure and guidelines, and have begun to address the introduction of images and other forms of evidence when interviewing children. These images and evidence provide corroboration and can assist in identifying other victims, but this benefit can be achieved without showing them to the child. Additionally, showing them may be re-traumatizing. This presentation will discuss the practice of using images and other evidence during child forensic interviews.
This training is appropriate for forensic interviewers, prosecutors, child protections workers, and law enforcement officers working within a multidisciplinary team.
Learning Objectives:
- Review the background of child sexual abuse and child sexual abuse images online
- Explore child, system, and trauma-informed practice related considerations for use of images and other evidence during child forensic interviews
- Identify next steps in strengthening practice for the use of images and other evidence during child forensic interviews
This training is being offered at no cost to accepted participants under our OJJDP Trauma-Informed Prosecutor Project grant.
We are no longer accepting applications for this training.