When you work with children who have faced the trauma of sexual abuse, you must try to handle an interview with care. Whether you are a private investigator in Okalhoma City or a process server in Oklahoma, if you are involved in any serious case, you must know how to communicate with victims. These cases are complex and complicated and require a deep understanding of child psychology. There are some techniques for interviewing sexually abused children:
1. Create a Safe, Child-Friendly Environment
Before you ask any questions, try to create a calm, private and peaceful setting. Children who face sexual assault feel fearful and emotionally weak. A private investigator in OKC is responsible for offering comfort to the children and providing them toys and chocolates to relax them. As a process server in OK you can’t conduct interview but understanding all the techniquesis important.
Tip: do not take informations quickly but first try to develop the trust between interview conductor and the child.
2. Use Simple, Age-Appropriate Language
Many childen try to explain what happened to them but they can not speak complex language.so it is necessary that you should use simple laguag in interview. Try to use adut terms that child can not understand. Additionally, use dolls, drawings and some sketches to ask questions simple, it might help you.
Pro Tip: Ask questions like, did you remeber what happened after that? Do not ask comlicated questions.
3. Build Trust with Patience and Empathy
Trust is the building block of every succesful interview. Investigators ust allow children to speak freely whatever comes in their mind. They should not interrupt them when they are explaining instead show kindness and avoid judgement. A process server in Oklahoma City and a private investigator should understand that building a report is sometimes a time-consuming process.
Pro Tip : Do not judge the child and listen to him; sometimes listening helps more than asking.
Avoid Leading or Suggestive Questions
While taking interviews, try not to ask leading questions because they often confuse a child and lead to inaccurate information. For example, asking “did he touch you there”. A well-trained private investigator near me should use open-ended questions that will give the child an opportunity to answer freely. In this way, there will be no pressure on the child, he will answer in his own way.
Pro Tip: try to stay neuatral with child while asking questions.
5. Document Carefully and Plan for Follow-Up
Before taking the interview, the investigator should document all questions and information that he is going to ask the child. It is critical for private investigators in OKC, who always need documents in interviews. Documented questions will help them not miss any questions and essential information from the child to investigate.
Whether you are interviewing or hiring child psychologists, they can understand the child’s mind and ask questions in the way a child understands.
Conclusion
For anyone, it is a very challenging and complex task to interview children who have faced sexual assault. When you are a process server in OKC or a private investigator, you must use different techniques that will help you support the child and save him further trauma in future. If you stay kind, gentle, and humble, it will help you uncover the truth to protect the child from sexual assault.
