Package 6: Forensic Interviewing — Comprehensive Techniques and Application (40 Hours)

Focus: Advanced forensic interview training covering child forensic interviews, sexual assault victim interviews, bias-aware interviewing, experiential interviewing, and combined-technique application.

This program is highly hands-on and scenario-based. Participants will engage in extensive role-play exercises, mock interviews, live scenario simulations, and peer-reviewed practice sessions throughout the entire 40 hours. Any refusal to participate in scenario exercises, role-plays, or practical applications will result in failure to pass the program. There are no exceptions. Full participation is mandatory for certification.

Core Curriculum:

Block 1: Child Forensic Interviews (8 Hours)

•          ChildFirst Protocol and Forensic Interview Methodology

•          Developmental Considerations: Age-appropriate language, cognitive capacity, and suggestibility

•          Building Rapport with Child Victims and Witnesses

•          Narrative Practice and Free Recall Techniques for Children

•          Recognizing Indicators of Coaching, Contamination, and False Allegations

•          Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Coordination at Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs)

•          Scenario-Based Practice: Live child forensic interview simulations with peer and instructor feedback

Block 2: Sexual Assault Victim Interviews (8 Hours)

•          Neurobiology of Sexual Assault Trauma: Memory fragmentation, tonic immobility, and delayed disclosure

•          Trauma-Informed Interview Framework for Adult Sexual Assault Victims

•          Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) Application

•          Interviewing Reluctant, Recanting, and Non-Disclosing Victims

•          Cultural Competency in Sexual Assault Interviews: LGBTQ+, male victims, vulnerable populations

•          Coordination with SART, SANE/SAFE Nurses, and Victim Advocates

•          Scenario-Based Practice: Full sexual assault victim interview simulations

Block 3: Bias-Aware Interviewing (8 Hours)

•          Understanding Cognitive Bias in Investigative Interviewing: Confirmation bias, anchoring, tunnel vision

•          Implicit Bias and Its Impact on Victim Credibility Assessments

•          Recognizing and Mitigating Interviewer Bias in Real Time

•          Bias in Report Writing and Case Documentation

•          Cross-Cultural Interviewing: Race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, and socioeconomic factors

•          Ethical Interviewing Standards and Avoiding False Confessions

•          Scenario-Based Practice: Bias identification exercises and corrective interview techniques

Block 4: Experiential Interviewing (8 Hours)

•          Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI): Full methodology and application

•          Sensory-Based Questioning: Eliciting experiential details (sights, sounds, smells, physical sensations)

•          Understanding Trauma Responses During Interviews: Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn

•          Moving Beyond “What Happened?” to “What Was That Like?”: Shifting interview paradigms

•          Interviewer Wellness: Managing vicarious trauma during difficult interviews

•          Scenario-Based Practice: Full experiential interviews with structured debriefs

Block 5: Combining Techniques — Integrated Interview Application (8 Hours)

•          Combining FETI, Cognitive Interview, and Narrative-Based Techniques in a Single Interview

•          Adapting Interview Strategy Based on Victim/Witness Type, Developmental Stage, and Trauma Presentation

•          Complex Case Interviews: Cases involving multiple victims, conflicting accounts, and delayed reporting

•          Interview Planning, Preparation, and Post-Interview Documentation

•          Expert Testimony Preparation: Articulating interview methodology in court

•          Capstone Scenario: Full integrated forensic interview simulation (instructor-evaluated, pass/fail)

•          After-Action Review and Individual Feedback Sessions

Deliverables:

•          Certificate of Completion in Forensic Interviewing (upon successful completion of all scenario requirements)

•          Forensic Interview Reference Guide and Protocol Manual

•          Scenario bank and practice scripts for continued agency training

•          Interview planning templates and documentation forms

•          Post-training consultation (3 months) for case-specific interview strategy support

Investment: $12,000 per 40-hour package (up to 15 participants)