Our public safety professionals have vowed to defend the innocent, so when a minor is involved in an investigation, we all want to make sure they are kept safe. Gathering interview evidence from a child can greatly impact the outcome of a case. But as we work to uphold justice, it’s also important to think of the child’s wellbeing. That’s why agencies and child advocacy groups choose to utilize audio video recordings for their testimonial evidence.
Benefits of Recording Interview Evidence
For every type of case, being able to work with recording equipment can be an asset to the entire judicial process. Allowing the court to review recordings of interviews for both suspects and victims can provide much more information than transcripts alone. And when children are involved in a case, it’s even more important to think in terms of their best interests.
It simply isn’t necessary for a minor to make an appearance in the courtroom. In fact, the process of giving a testimony itself can actually lead to more harm. Being asked to share their story in that type of stressful setting can re-victimize a child, and more agencies are seeking solutions to record interview evidence to help protect juveniles and children from that trauma.
Recording child testimonies means they only need to tell their story once. The court can still review the crucial information that an interview provides—and the child can be better protected. Partnering with a child advocacy center provides safety and a more comfortable environment for minors. They can speak with a trained professional, and the right interview recording solution can document the evidence in a lower-stress setting. With that conversation complete, the evidence can be shared with the proper authorities and submitted to the court.
Assurance in the Justice System
Of course, there’s another side to gathering interview evidence from a child. What if the minor is being interviewed as a suspect? In many ways, the same process applies. The juvenile interrogation process needs to be handled with care, and agencies that are equipped with a modern interview room can help confirm that they are doing their part to honor a fair trial.
In order to avoid false confessions by youth, most agencies understand the value of continuing to reevaluate their interview process. Specialized juvenile interview training for agencies would likely work in a similar way that child advocacy centers help protect the innocent. Being able to review the entire interview on an audio video recording can also help ensure that an innocent youth is always protected.
Does Your Community Want a Better Solution?
Our team at iRecord is dedicated to the agencies that serve and protect their communities day in and day out. In order to do their job correctly, they need to have the right solutions for recording interview evidence to submit to the court. We have been proud to partner with child advocacy groups and agencies across the country, and we’re always happy to answer your questions about upgrading your site with a professional interview room.
Communities need to know that their public safety professionals are submitting accurate evidence to the court. Fortunately, we don’t need to have children making an official court appearance in order for the court to have a testimony to review. Recording interviews helps protect minors of all ages and works to keep our communities safe.