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Increasing successful prosecution rates in child sexual abuse (CSA) cases is an important purpose of law enforcement agencies to ensure children’s safety. However, research has shown that legal prosecution of CSA cases is highly complex resulting in only a small percentage of cases being prosecuted and ultimately proven in court. Oftentimes, the probative evidence in CSA cases hinges on the testimony of the child, because suspects in CSA cases are often in denial and because forensic technical evidence is absent. In the current research project, we will conduct several studies related to interviewing alleged CSA victims. In this study, we will implement the NICHD evidence-based forensic child interview protocol at two police stations in Jakarta. The aim of this study is to improve child interviewing methods by police officers. We will investigate the effect of the NICHD protocol training program on police officers’ knowledge and skills by using a pre – post within-subjects design. Furthermore, the effect of the NICHD protocol on alleged victims’ statement quantity and quality, and police officers ‘questioning style will be examined in a study with a group of police officers that uses the NICHD protocol versus a group of officers that uses their usual method of interviewing children. As a subsidiary aim, we will test whether the use of this protocol will have a positive effect on children’s emotional state by lowering negative mood

Increasing successful prosecution rates in child sexual abuse (CSA) cases is an important purpose of law enforcement agencies to ensure children’s safety. However, research has shown that legal prosecution of CSA cases is highly complex resulting in only a small percentage of cases being prosecuted and ultimately proven in court. Oftentimes, the probative evidence in CSA cases hinges on the testimony of the child, because suspects in CSA cases are often in denial and because forensic technical evidence is absent. In the current research project, we will conduct several studies related to interviewing alleged CSA victims. In this study, we will implement the NICHD evidence-based forensic child interview protocol at two police stations in Jakarta. The aim of this study is to improve child interviewing methods by police officers. We will investigate the effect of the NICHD protocol training program on police officers’ knowledge and skills by using a pre – post within-subjects design. Furthermore, the effect of the NICHD protocol on alleged victims’ statement quantity and quality, and police officers ‘questioning style will be examined in a study with a group of police officers that uses the NICHD protocol versus a group of officers that uses their usual method of interviewing children. As a subsidiary aim, we will test whether the use of this protocol will have a positive effect on children’s emotional state by lowering negative mood