Child First and the Zero Abuse Project have established a full document on conducting a pandemic-era forensic interview and defending it in court.
The 20-page document was written by Victor Vieth, Rita Farrell, Rachel Johnson, and Robert Peters.
The guide covers several changes and recommendations, including:
- Health screenings
- Limiting the number of people in the CAC
- Reduce movement in the CAC from room to room
- Modifications to waiting and common areas
- Modifications to ways MDTs are brought together
- PPE for the child and interviewer
- Social distancing practices
- Sneeze guards and plexiglass
- Forensic interview protocols, including how to build rapport, transition topics, and more
- How and when to conduct tele-forensic interviews
- Developing a back-up plan if equipment fails
- Explaining the process for the tele-forensic interview to the child
- Interview aids
- and defense in court