A new mobile unit could soon become another important tool that could help solve crimes involving children. Organizers say it creates a safe space for young victims and witnesses.
The Mobile Child Interview Lab may look like a truck from the outside, but inside it has comfortable seating, subdued lighting and decorations that allow investigators to easily access children who have witnessed a crime or been victimized by a criminal. There are even weighted stuffed animals if you need to gather information from us.
“When children feel safe and emotionally secure, they will give a full and accurate account of what happened,” said Andrea Harner, child forensic interview specialist at Mobile Child Interviewing Lab. We know that.”
Everything within the mobile unit is purposefully and carefully placed, as a comfortable atmosphere is essential to making children feel safe. This also includes stuffed animals that children can pet to remind them of soft textures.
Credit: Mobile Child Interview Lab
“We always try to keep all the senses in mind,” Harner says. Harner, along with other experts at the institute, worked at the Los Angeles County Child Advocacy Center, where children are frequently interviewed for allegations of abuse and other crimes.
As with any criminal investigation, it takes time to obtain statements and witness statements from young people.
“When there is a child report or disclosure of child sexual abuse, we want to interview them as soon as possible,” said Monica Borunda of the Mobile Child Interview Lab. “It’s better to have it explained to them in their own words, in an age- and developmentally-appropriate, trauma-informed way.”
Dr. Thomas Ryan of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law also partners with the lab because he understands the importance of closing interviews quickly.
“In most cases, there is a suspect in custody and the prosecutor’s office has to file charges within three days or release the person from prison,” said one of the leaders of the child forensics movement. Lyon, also known as America explained.
While the children feel safe in the lab, cameras, microphones, and other technological devices record the interviews and convert them into a recording for researchers.
“This minimizes the need for children to be interviewed again,” Ryan explained. “It also minimized the possibility that the child would have to testify in court.”
Credit: Mobile Child Interview Lab
The Mobile Child Interview Lab, which started at a grassroots level with private donations earlier this year, is now working with various law enforcement agencies.
In January, the task force will begin functioning as intended, using its mobility to meet with investigators at designated locations when crimes occur.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Unit told NBC Los Angeles that it looks forward to partnering with the Mobile Child Interview Institute.
If a lab is not available, interviewers will have a take-home kit to talk to the children, including the Child of the Week. An 8-year-old girl was investigated on suspicion of being sexually abused by someone.
“She said, ‘I know he’s in prison, but people get out of prison, and I want him to stop touching me,'” Harner said of the young He talked about his interactions with the victim. “The prosecutor reminded me that if this interrogation could not be completed by the required time, the suspect would have had to be released.”
A spokesperson for new Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told NBC Los Angeles that the collaboration with the institute fills a critical gap in services.
The full statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is below.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is collaborating with the University of Southern California (USC) to implement the Mobile Child Observation Lab, an innovative initiative aimed at assisting and protecting young crime victims during forensic interviews. I’m proud to announce this. This mobile laboratory was pioneered by Thomas D. Ryan, a renowned child abuse expert, to help create a trauma-reducing environment for children in a safe and comfortable space. You will be able to talk to investigators and prosecutors.
Thomas D. Ryan is widely known for his expertise in child forensic interviewing, particularly the most effective and sensitive methods for interrogating children for abuse and violence. As a leader in this field, he has personally trained many Deputy District Attorneys (DDAs) who handle child abuse cases in our office, as well as forensic interviewers who work at Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) throughout Los Angeles County. . His child interview training will help ensure our team and community partners have the knowledge and skills to conduct these important interviews in a way that minimizes harm to children. Ta.
The Mobile Child Observation Lab represents a significant expansion of our office’s efforts to assist child victims. Through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with USC approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, our office formalizes our partnership with this new institute, mirroring our relationships with other CACs in the region. did. This collaboration fills a critical gap in service, as this mobile lab is specifically designed to respond to emergency interview requests on weekends when local non-mobile CACs may not be available.
In addition to forensic interviews, the Mobile Child Viewing Lab provides emergency advocacy services to ensure child victims and their families receive the support they need during a crisis. By working closely with local advocacy teams, law enforcement, medical staff, and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the institute minimizes the number of interviews children have to undergo and avoids further trauma. It is being reduced. Interviews are conducted by highly trained professionals in a child-friendly environment with the aim of gathering important evidence while prioritizing the child’s welfare.
We remain committed to taking a multidisciplinary approach to child protection and this work is evidence of our continued efforts to improve services for young victims. In collaboration with our community partners, including USC, we continue to strengthen the safety net for children across Los Angeles County.
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