What Is a Forensic Interview?
A Forensic Interview is an investigative, non-leading conversation conducted by a professional at a Child Abuse Intervention Center (CAIC) on behalf of law enforcement and child protection agencies.
- These interviews are developmentally appropriate, neutral, and designed to allow children to share information in their own words, should they have something that needs to be disclosed. This means they are legally defensible and gentle, evidence-based conversations.
- The interview is observed and/or recorded so the child does not have to be questioned repeatedly by different adults, which can taint or alter a disclosure. This also minimizes the trauma of the child.
What’s Inside:
This free downloadable guide gives you clear, age-appropriate ways to talk to kids about:
Body safety and body autonomy
The correct names for private parts
What’s appropriate vs. concerning behavior
How to ask the right questions if you’re worried
Why kids sometimes stay silent — and how to help them open up
Written by Jessica Sheehan — an award-winning Child Development Expert and former Forensic Interviewer, who conducted more than 500 interviews with children as part of abuse investigations at CAIC (Child Abuse Intervention Center). Jessica has trained professionals across schools, courts, and multidisciplinary teams to better protect and support children. In addition to her current work in publicity, publishing, and show production, Jessica also makes time to support children as a Substitute Teacher in her community
Sign Up For A FREE PDF!
About the Author
Jessica Sheehan has reviewed more than 8,000 cases of suspected child abuse and neglect and has personally conducted over 530 forensic interviews with children ages 3 to 17, as part of multidisciplinary abuse investigations.
Through these hundreds of sensitive and difficult conversations, she learned:
What helps children open up — and what shuts them down
Why tone, timing, and trust matter more than saying things perfectly
How to ask the right questions without leading or frightening a child
That calm, honest language about private parts helps protect kids
And that small, repeated conversations are more powerful than one “big talk”
Jessica has trained professionals in schools, courts, law enforcement, advocacy centers, as well as people in community organizations, and church groups. She is the host of Unfiltered Parenting on BingeTV, and a passionate voice for prevention, body autonomy, and safe communities.