CFI Child & Vulnerable Population Interviewing Flashcards
6 cards from real CFI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CFI Child & Vulnerable Population Interviewing flashcards as text
A forensic interviewer notices a child is becoming distressed during questioning about abuse. The BEST response is to:
Answer: Pause, validate the child's feelings, and offer a break while keeping the child in the interview room
Pausing to validate the child's emotional state and offering a short break can help the child regulate, after which the interview may often continue productively.
The concept of 'child competency' in a legal context for US proceedings refers to:
Answer: Whether the child understands the difference between truth and lies and the obligation to tell the truth
In US courts, child witness competency typically requires that the child understands the difference between truth and falsehood and appreciates the importance of telling the truth.
When interviewing a non-English-speaking child witness, the CFI should:
Answer: Work with a trained, neutral interpreter and direct all questions to the child, not the interpreter
A trained neutral interpreter reduces bias and distortion, while directing questions to the child (not the interpreter) maintains proper forensic interview protocol.
Which of the following behaviors during a child forensic interview should alert a CFI to possible prior coaching of the child?
Answer: Rote, scripted-sounding responses using adult vocabulary inconsistent with the child's developmental level
Adult-sounding vocabulary, scripted phrases, and rehearsed-seeming responses can indicate that a child has been coached on what to say rather than reporting genuine memory.
Mandated reporter laws in the US require forensic interviewers employed in covered roles to report suspected child abuse to:
Answer: The appropriate child protective services or law enforcement agency
US mandated reporter statutes require professionals in covered roles to report reasonable suspicion of child abuse to CPS or law enforcement, regardless of certainty.
The term 'trauma-informed interviewing' in the context of child forensic interviews means:
Answer: Structuring the interview to minimize re-traumatization while still obtaining forensically sound information
Trauma-informed interviewing acknowledges the child's trauma history and structures the process to reduce unnecessary distress while maintaining the integrity of the forensic account.