SPECIALIZED COURSE FOR WOMEN

AND CHILDREN PROTECTION DESK

(WCPD) OFFICERS

WCPD SPECIALIZED COURSE

 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

HOW TO
INTERVIEW A
CHILD

WCPD SPECIALIZED COURSE

 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

 By the end of this module, the

participants should be able to:

 Enumerate the different parts of an interview

 Demonstrate interviewing strategies for different interview
SCENARIOS where victims might show a range
of cooperativeness
 Properly use the Manual on Taking the
Sworn Statement during an actual interview

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

PREPARATION FOR THE

INTERVIEW
 Who should interview the child?
 Where should the interview take place?
 Preparation of the child for the interview
 How will the interview be recorded?

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

WHO SHOULD INTERVIEW THE

CHILD?
 The trained interviewer.
 In the protocol being prepared by the
DOJ Committee for the Special Protection of
Children (RA 7610), the social worker should be
present in the investigative interview whenever
possible.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

WHERE SHOULD THE INTERVIEW

TAKE PLACE?
 In a private room with only the
official interviewers present e.g. police and social
worker.
 The environment should encourage the child to
talk
 Turn off phones!
 No media!

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

PREPARATION OF THE CHILD FOR

THE INTERVIEW
 The child should be comfortable, had already
eaten and not sleepy.
 Food, if available, should be offered before
the interview and not during the interview.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

HOW WILL THE INTERVIEW BE

RECORDED?
 It is best if you have some
way of recording the interview e.g. tape
recorder.

 There are only 12 child-friendly studios

nationwide that are capable of videotaping.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

MULTIDISCIPLINARY
FORENSIC INTERVIEW AT PGH CPU
 Trained forensic interviewer- Pediatrician
 Videotaped and participated by police, CPU social
worker, lawyer, Dept. of Social Welfare officer

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

WHEN DO YOU INTERVIEW THE

CARE GIVER OR PARENT?
 Before you interview the child.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

THE SCENARIO MODEL

FOR INVESTIGATIVE
INTERVIEWING
UP-PGH Child Protection Unit

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

THE SCENARIO MODEL

INTRODUCTION,
DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING

OPENING QUESTION
ALTERNATIVE
OPENING
QUESTIONS
CHILD
SCENARIO B-1:ENV/REL Qs
DISCLOSES:
SCENARIO A SCENARIO B-2:DRAWINGS

SCENARIO C: PRIOR INFO




CLOSE INTERVIEW
CONCLUSION

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

PARTS OF THE INTERVIEW

 1. Introduction
 2. Case Part
Scenario A: Child talks freely
Scenario B: Use of memory aids
Scenario C: Bringing in prior information
 3. Conclusion

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

INTRODUCTION
 Goals
Introduce the interviewer to the child
 1.

2. Clarify role of interviewer

3. Explain the purpose of the interview
4. Assess the child’s developmental level
5. Give child options/sense of control

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

RAPPORT BUILDING
 The most important part of the interview
 There are no short cuts
 The interview begins with neutral questions
 You can also use the developmental assessment
to build rapport with the child.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

NOTES ABOUT TEEN-AGERS

 May have a gender preference regarding the
interviewer
 Even though some of them may look
like adults, they are NOT adults.
 They may be very defensive and abrasive.
 They don’t want to be treated like a child.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

INTRODUCTION
 Nandito tayo sa Police Station _______.
 Ako si (name). Ako ay isang pulis.
 Ako ang nakikipag-usap sa mga bata. Marami
na akong ibang batang nakausap.
 Kahit anong sabihin mo hindi ako magagalit
o magugulat.
 Nandito tayo ngayon para pag-usapan yung
totoong nangyari.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

INTRODUCTION
 Then offer choice of coloring or playing.
“Gusto mo bang mag-laro, mag-kulay
o pag-usapan na kung bakit ka nandito?”
 Developmental Screening Questions may be
asked while child is playing

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

INTRODUCTION: DEVELOPMENTAL
SCREENING
 Developmental Screening Questions

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

SCENARIO A
 Instructions prior to questioning

 “Meronakong mga itatanong sa ‘yo ha, kasi wala ako doon noong
nangyari yung sinabi mo. Sabihin mo lang sa akin lahat ng naaalala
mo. Wala namang tama o maling sagot.”

 “Pwede mong sabihin sa akin kung hindi mo alam ang sagot.”

 “Puede mong tanungin kung hindi mo naiintindihan ang tanong.”

 “Baka mag-ulit ako ng tanong pero hindi nangangahulugan na mali

ang sinagot mo sa akin.”

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

CASE PART: SCENARIO A

 Opening Question

 Alam mo ba kung bakit ka nandito?

 Bakit ka nandito?
 Sinabi mong may pag-uusapan tayo. Ano yon?

 Alternative Opening Questions

 Sinong kasama mo dito at anong sabi
niyang gagawin mo dito?
 Talaga bang hindi mo alam o ayaw mo
lang pagusapan o ayaw mong ikuwento o iba
pa?
 Tungkol ba sa pangyayari na maganda o
hindi maganda?
 Tungkol ba ito sayo o sa ibang tao?

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

SCENARIO B: MEMORY AIDS

 Use of anatomical drawings

 Asking about environment

 Asking about relationships

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

SCENARIO B: MEMORY AIDS

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

SCENARIO B: USE OF
ANATOMICAL DRAWINGS
 Start by naming the body parts at
random

 Differentiate girl from boy and identify which

one she is.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

QUESTIONS FOCUSING ON BODY PARTS

Questions related to the penis
(Offender is male)

 “Who has one of those?”

 “What is it for?”
 “Is it ever used for anything aside from peeing?”
 “Have you ever seen one?”
Whose?
When?
What was he doing?

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

 “Did you ever have to do anything to one?”

 “Did anyone ever do anything to you with one?

 “How did he do that?”

 “Have you ever seen one?”

Whose?
When?
What was he doing?

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

SCENARIO B: ENVIRONMENT
QUESTIONS
 Who lives in your house?
 Tell me what your house is like?
 Do you like it there?
 Where do you sleep?
 Who sleeps with you?
 What do you do when you stay
up late at night?

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

SCENARIO B: RELATIONSHIP
QUESTIONS
 Tell me about ____?
 What is ____like?
 Are there things that you and ___
do together?
 Do you do things alone with ____?
 Are there things you like about ___?
 Are there things you don’t like about _?

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

SCENARIO B: RELATIONSHIP
QUESTIONS
 Are there things ____ does to you that
you don’t like?
 Are there things ___ does to your body
you don’t like?
To what part?
 Does ___ever hurt you in any way?
How?

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

SCENARIO C: PRIOR INFORMATION

 Ask permission to leave the room first

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

SCENARIO C: PRIOR INFORMATION

 Use information from prior disclosure to confidant
 Examples:

 “ Sabi sa akin may sinumbong ka daw kay Mama. Ano yon?”

 “Sabi ni Nanay, may nangyari daw sa school. Ano yon?”
 DO NOT MENTION SUSPECT’S NAME or ACT !!!

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

AVERSION
 Reactions
 Reasons
 Do not ignore this reaction!
 Ask what is going on
 Ask indirectly, ex., other children’s reaction
 Switch topics to a neutral one
 “Onion-peeling” technique

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

AVERSION

 If still not successful, accept

this and tell child she may
come back when she is ready.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

CASE PART: GETTING

INFORMATION

 Always start with open-ended questions:

What?
How?
Where?
Who?
When?

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

GETTING INFORMATION
 Free Recall
 “Uh-Huh”,”Tapos…”, “Ano pa?”
 Repetition of what child said
 Non-verbal cues

 Follow up with more specific questions

Ex.: “Saang parte ng bahay niyo nangyari

ito?”

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

GETTING INFORMATION
 Hierarchy of Questions
Open Questions
 Ask about ACTS before CIRCUMSTANCES

 Ex.: “Anong nangyari?”,”Kailan ito

nangyari?”
Specific Open Questions
 Ex.: “Saang parte ng bahay ninyo

nangyari ito?”

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

 Multiple Choice Questions

 Minimum of 3 choices followed by “o iba pa?”

 “Right answer” should be middle choice

 Ex.: “Ano mo itong si Totoy, kapatid, tiyo, lolo o iba

pa?”

 Closed Questions
 Answerable only by “yes” or “no”

 Ex.: “Hinila ka ba sa kuwarto?”

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

GETTING INFORMATION
 Repeating questions
 Usedifferent words
 Repeat after a gap
 Checking questions
 Clarifyorigin of certain parts of disclosure
 Ex.: “Paano mo alam na alas-onse na?”
 Showing or Demonstrating
 To clarify details about act disclosed
 Drawings or dolls
 Ask permission first

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 DOUBT OR LACK OF
Module 4: How to Interview A Child

CLARITY
 Remain neutral, do not be accusatory
 Use checking or test questions
 “Teka lang, nalito na ako.” Sabi mo ____,
tapos sabi mo _____. Ipaliwanag mo nga sa
akin ulit para maintindihan ko?”
 Never ask if story was made up

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 CASE PART: GETTING
Module 4: How to Interview A Child

INFORMATION
 Asking about disclosure
To whom
How
Reaction to disclosure
 Important Points to Observe
Emotional condition
Spontaneity

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

CORROBORATIVE INFORMATION
 You have to gather other information you need
in the process of investigating the crime
that can help you corroborate the
child’s statement Elements of secrecy, threats,
bribes
 Other children involved
 Exposure to pornography
 Exposure to sex toys and devices
 Tactile and sensory memories
 Unusual details or events

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

SUMMARIZING
 Summarizing Free Recall

 Instructions
“Uulitinko yung sinabi mo sa akin.”
“Sabihin mo kung tama yung sinabi ko.”
“Kung mali naman, sabihin mo din, at
itama mo, ok?”
 Only 3-5 pieces of information per summary.
 “Tama ba?” then give time to correct you.
 This can also be used when the
story get’s complicated and confusing.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

CONCLUSION
 “May gusto ka bang itanong sa akin?”
 “May nakalimutan ba akong tanungin?”
 “Salamat ha, Ana, at nakipag-usap ka sa akin.”
 “Gusto mo bang mag-laro o magligpit bago
tayo umalis?”
 “Pagkatapos nito…….(what will the child do next?)

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO THE

LECTURE

 Just one lecture on forensic interviewing is not

enough!

 If your job is to take statements from children

you should undergo more training and practice
under supervision.

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

KEY LEARNING POINTS

By the end of this module, the
participants should be able to:

 Identify and follow accordingly the different phases

of a child-friendly forensic interview
 Use the appropriate protocols and formulate
comprehensible questions when interviewing a child
considering different scenarios

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 Module 4: How to Interview A Child

Thank You!

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