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Abstract: 

Interviewing suspected victims is a critical task in the investigation of alleged abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Skillful victim interviewing requires significant training and expertise. A well-conducted interview yields information which is relevant, reliable, and valid. This data can be enormously helpful to the suspected victim and those who care about this person, as well as to investigators, prosecutors, and the public-at-large. Organizations employing staff alleged to have abused clients or residents can use suspected victim interview data to guide administrative decision-making. Persons erroneously accused of abuse benefit from valid and reliable suspected victim interview results. While there is great potential benefit to well-conducted interviews, adverse consequences result when interviews are not conducted appropriately. Most significantly, vulnerable individuals may be subjected to ongoing and serious victimization.

Keywords: principles of victim interviewing; responding to disclosures

Affiliations:  .