by Thomas Mächler

Regrettably child abuse and sexual exploitation occur even in institutions whose chief function it is to protect and care for children. In cases of child abuse and in particular in cases of sexual exploitation there are rarely witnesses or direct evidence. The testimony of the child victims is therefore of crucial importance.

In the Canton of Basel-Stadt (the City of Basle) the authorities responsible for child protection under civil law in cooperation with the prosecuting authorities have therefore developed a special form of training. Experts from family counselling centres, from psychological services for schools, from therapeutic education services, from the child and youth welfare office (Department for Child Protection) as well as from the public prosecutors for minors (Jugendanwaltschaft), who regularly interview children in cases of suspected abuse or sexual exploitation, underwent a multi-part course, training them to professionally interview children.

The novel feature of this training course is the close cooperation between the criminal prosecution sector (prosecution in juvenile matters; interviewing child victims), the child protection agencies under civil law (child and youth welfare office), government agencies (psychological services for schools, therapeutic education services) and of a private, publicly subsidized agency (family counselling).

This intensive cooperation in the preparation and implementation of the course has – as a side effect – led to a generally clearly better and more open cooperation in the interest of child protection.

The training concept

The standardized initial interview follows a uniform procedure and specific guidelines. It is recorded as a digital video and can be used later in civil and/or criminal proceedings at court. The purpose of this procedure is to avoid repeated interviewing and questioning and thus help to prevent a possible secondary traumatisation of the children.

The training concept which was developed in cooperation with the Fachhochschule für Soziale Arbeit beider Basel (College of Social Work of Basle) has been successfully used in practice. Meanwhile other Cantons also offer similarly structured training courses based on the concept developed in Basle.

Regular supervision and intervision are features guaranteeing the quality of the interviews and the further development of the concept. With the help of professionals specially trained for sensitive interviewing (psychologists, social workers) evidence is gathered which will be acceptable in court and will also stand possible credibility tests later on.

Purpose of the Interview

The interview serves to clarify what actually took place. Thus it serves to investigate whether abuse occurred, and – if so – which form of abuse it was, and who the abuser was. Through such clarification the STEB supports the decision, whether child protection measures have to be taken and which ones, and also whether charges have to be laid.

If it is clear from the beginning that there will be charges laid, the interview is held by the criminal prosecution authorities. Criteria of child protection and criminal law are applied during the interview. It is held by specially trained professionals. Experience has shown that a preceding verbal statement of the child or young person is helpful if such an interview is to yield useful results.

All agencies in the Canton of Basel-Stadt (the City of Basle) which have a role in the field of child protection, and all institutions of child and youth care have been informed of this service. They know that they should not inquire any further themselves after a verbal statement or hint, but that a standardized initial interview should be held as soon as possible – if necessary within 48 hours. This is to prevent the victim being influenced through professionally incorrect questioning, which would make the testimony useless for later purposes.

Organisation and principles of the interview

The interview is always initiated by a recognized first contact agency. This agency is also responsible for preparatory and follow-up measures. The interview is held by two specifically trained professionals (one person asks questions, the other one operates the technical equipment as an outside monitor and can ask additional questions if necessary). The focus is on the best interest of the child. Three hypotheses (experience, alternative, no result) are always pursued.

There are three specially equipped rooms with dual digital video systems in the City of Basle 2 (two rooms are also equipped with one-way mirrors). One interviewing room is at the office of prosecution for minors (Jugendanwaltschaft), another one at the child and youth welfare office, and one at a private agency (family counselling). Depending on the situation, upon the request of the victim the interview can also be held in a neutral setting in which the child feels more comfortable.

Course of an interview 2

The course of the interview follows a clear pattern:

• welcome, introduction, demonstration of the technology
• establishing rapport, role-definition
• transition to the interview topic
• asking for a coherent rendering of the situation
• suggestion for reconsideration
• "funnel-shaped" questioning to one aspect of the topic at a time
• summarising from time to time
• debriefing, leading over to a neutral topic.

The interview should be held in a non-hectic atmosphere; the interviewer should sit in a relaxed position. Slow speech, short sentences and simple questions are recommended. Open questions should be used in the beginning. The interviewer should signal interest and attention ("mmhh", nodding) but should not reinforce any contents. In no case should the flow of speech of the interviewee be interrupted. Pauses are acceptable, even if they are long. Interruptions must be avoided (turn off mobile phones!).

If the interview does not lead to clarification

A standardized initial interview does not bring about clarification in every case, which means that it will not be possible in every case to either substantiate or exclude that abuse has taken place. If a suspicion remains, experts need to judge whether the child in question would suffer more by the abuse if it actually does exist, or through restrictive protective measures, if they are unjustified because there is no abuse. An interview cannot replace this decision. It is however a very good basis for a decision in the best interest of the child.

Author: lic.phil. Thomas Mächler, Child and Youth Psychologist (Fachpsychologe für Kinder und Jugendpsychologie FSP), Ministry of Education of the City of Basle (Erziehungsdepartement Basel-Stadt), Switzerland

1. The Canton of the City of Basle has a population of about 190'000.
2. Based on the course material. The concept of the interview is based on documentation and publications by Prof. Dr. Volker Dittmann, University of Basle, Dr. Madeleine Eggler, Child And Youth Counselling (Erziehungsberatung), Bern and Prof. Dr. Günter Köhnken, University of Kiel.

Author’s address:
Thomas Mächler
Erziehungsdepartement Basel-Stadt
Leimenstrasse 1
Postfach
CH-4001 Basel

E-Mail thomas.maechler@bs.ch

(Further information on Netzwerk Kindesschutz (child protection network) of the Canton Basel-Stadt is available on www.kindesschutz.bs.ch, in German only).