The Interview Process

When suspected child sexual abuse is reported, a Baltimore Police detective, or Child Protective Service worker (depending on which agency received the report), or both, is dispatched to where the child is located and speaks with the person initiating the report.  The detective or worker then ensures that the child is out of harm’s way, but does not interview the child.  If the abuse was within 72 hours of the report, the detective or worker transports the child to one of two local hospitals that partner with BCAC who have medical personnel trained in child sexual abuse examinations. If the abuse is less recent and the child has no physical complaints, a medical exam is scheduled at BCAC to coincide with the child’s interview. BCAC schedules the child’s interview and arranges for appropriate team members to be present.

 

First and foremost, BCAC wants children and their families to feel safe and comfortable during this process. Our waiting room has toys, books, arts & crafts materials, and age-appropriate movies.  Children are offered healthy snacks.  Parents are interviewed first to get their perspective on the report and basic information about the family, as well as for the interviewer and workers to answer any questions or concerns about the child or the case.  A member of the treatment team may also be present during this part of the interview in order to get to know the family and ensure that the family is followed up with for any concerns or treatments needs after the interview. While their parents are being interviewed, a child care worker stays with the children to make sure that they are supervised and cared for at all times. 

 

The interviews are conducted by highly trained psychologists or social workers on BCAC’s staff.   Members of the multidisciplinary team view the interview from an adjoining room via closed-circuit television.  Siblings and other children in the household may be interviewed as well.