Sexual Assault Trials Handbook — Investigation and interviewing children in child sexual abuse cases

M Powell and B Earhart, “Principles to enhance communication with child witnesses“ (2018) 30 JOB 85.

This article describes practical strategies for communicating with children and other vulnerable witnesses engaged in the legal system. The article addresses common misconceptions about interviewing, then summarises four interviewing principles, grounded in research, that maximise the quality of communication with vulnerable witnesses. The focus is on questioning that minimises miscommunication and error, and makes interviewees feel heard during the process. The article draws on recent research to demonstrate the relevance of these recommendations to current courtroom practice.