The purpose of a forensic interview is to gather factual information from a child or adolescent in an objective and developmentally sensitive manner once allegations of abuse have been made or allegations of abuse have been identified.  Forensic interview professionals are trained in gathering pertinent information in a neutral, non-leading manner while taking into account the child or adolescent’s emotional needs and developmental level.  Emphasis is placed on the child’s comfort level, conducting a minimal number of interviews, and conducting the interview in a child friendly environment. The forensic interview allows for all of the investigating parties involved (law enforcement, child protective services, etc.) to assess for safety issues and possible criminal violations.

While the single interview approach is sufficient for many children and cases, a subset of children are challenged to participate in such a focused conversation with a stranger and may benefit from more time and an expanded conversation over multiple sessions.

An Extended Forensic Interview (EFI) is appropriate for children where the results of a single interview are inconclusive or where there are serious concerns about the child’s ability to participate in a single-session interview. Such children that might be considered for an EFI are a child with developmental delays or cognitive disabilities, or the extremely traumatized child.