What is a core requirement when interviewing child victims in VCITP?

• A. Use developmentally appropriate questions and allow guardians to participate
• B. Interrogate without considering child development
• C. Interview child as an adult
• D. Prohibit guardians from being present

Answer: (A)

Interviews with child victims should be tailored to the child’s developmental level and involve a trusted adult to support the process. This means using language the child can understand, asking open-ended questions that elicit detailed, voluntary responses, and giving the child time to respond. Having a guardian present or participating helps the child feel safe, can aid with recall, and supports accurate information gathering, while the interviewer stays neutral and focused on getting reliable information without coaching. This approach aligns with a victim-centered framework, prioritizing the child’s safety, comprehension, and well-being.

Interrogating without considering development risks miscommunication and retraumatization; treating the child as an adult ignores crucial cognitive and emotional differences; and prohibiting guardians from being present removes essential support.