Interviewing Children Who Witnessed Violence

Children may witness situational or chronic violence in several ways including domestic violence in the home, living in a violent neighborhood, and/or witnessing an assault or murder of another person. Even when a child is not physically harmed, witnessing incidents of violence takes a toll on their body, heart, and mind. Memories may be fragmented, and recall can trigger strong physiological and emotional reactions. If a child is potentially a key witness to the events that happened, it is important that they are interviewed in a sensitive and timely manner. This training will provide guidance for conducting a trauma-informed interview with a child and working cooperatively with investigative partners.