forensic services

Forensic Services

The Philadelphia Children’s Alliance’s team of expert forensic interviewers are trained to talk with children. The purpose of the forensic interview is to obtain a statement from the child, in a developmentally and culturally sensitive, unbiased and fact-finding manner that will support accurate and fair decision making by the various members of the multi-disciplinary team.

During these interviews, which generally last from 30 to 60 minutes, the child and interviewer talk in a child-friendly interview room, surrounded by colorfully painted walls, comfortable child-sized tables and chairs, crayons, and markers. Children are asked a series of non-leading, age appropriate questions that are designed to allow them to talk about what happened.

The entire interview is watched through closed circuit television by a police officer from the Special Victims Unit and by a caseworker from the Department of Human Services. The interview is also taped for later viewing by a prosecutor from the District Attorney’s Office and may later be used in court.

Forensic Interview Training

At PCA, all Forensic Interviewers are Master’s level professionals with degrees in social work, forensic science and other social services related fields. Forensic Interviewers at PCA go through an extensive 3-6 month training period which includes reading up-to-date research on topics including forensic interviewing techniques, question types, child abuse, the disclosure process and much more.

Every interview that is conducted by trained professionals at PCA is completed using the nationally recognized, evidenced based protocol of the National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC). PCA Forensic interviewers attend a weeklong training through NCAC to learn the protocol and how to apply question techniques to different age and developmental groups.

Forensic Interviewers are specially trained to ask questions in an open-ended manner that are non-leading, unbiased, and developmentally appropriate for the individual.

As forensic interviewers progress in their careers at PCA, they receive training in complex topics such as interviewing children who have witnessed violence, interviewing children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and interviewing adults with disabilities.

At PCA, we want to provide an opportunity for all children and people with different abilities to have their voice heard.