The Evaluation Of Justice System Actors On Forensic Interviews With Children Victims Of Sexual Abuse

Abstract

Forensic Interviewing is a method of communicating with subjects within the Investigation Process, in order to obtain the most accurate information. In recent years, the child’s involvement in the legal system, both as victims of crime and witnesses, has increased. The problem facing the Researcher, is that there is not enough information in the literature regarding the evaluations of judges and professional staff on Forensic Interviews with children who are victims of sexual abuse. This study was planned in Istanbul and was carried out in three major courthouses in Istanbul. The research data was analysed using the Maxqda 2020 qualitative data analysis program. It was determined that the training on Forensic Interview with sexually abused children had been found sufficient by most of the judges, but insufficient by more than half of the professional staff according to the result of the research. It was determined that more than half of the judges did not attend the training and those who did attend, were unwilling to use the child- friendly interview rooms. Professional staff declared that there should be more practical training in the future training programs. It was found that in Istanbul, each judge was responsible for roughly 60 trials each month and this situation puts time pressure on them. This article was produced from a doctoral thesis.