Interview Room in MAZOWIECKA Center

The interview room must meet both the psychophysical needs of children, and the formal requirements associated with legal interviews. The technical equipment includes a big one-way mirror, providing good visibility, a camera transmitting the image to the other room and recording the interview, as well as microphones registering sounds. Opposite to popular beliefs, we have not hidden the camera and the microphones. After all we do not make hidden-camera reportages and we never lie to the child that he or she is not going to be recorded, especially that the child's recorded testimony is a major part of the evidence. Most children quickly get accustomed to the recording situation and soon forget about the camera.

The equipment in the interview room must be carefully selected. It is not a play room, so it needs to remain quite ascetic. Obviously it should be cozy, nice, and a bit "childish". Nevertheless the selection of furniture, decorations, and toys has to be thoroughly considered and purposeful. It is indispensable to furnish such a room with two small tables: a lower one for younger children and a higher one for older ones. It is important that the child's feet reach the floor, when he or she sits at the table. This will reduce the tension and discomfort experienced by the child. There may be soft toys in the room, but the diagnostic toys should rather be hidden. We should definitely provide paper, crayons, and markers. Our experience shows that it is also recommendable to provide soft drinks and paper tissues.

 

The room on the other side of the one-way mirror is designed for adult participants in the legal procedure. It has to be properly lit and furnished with a table and chairs. It is also equipped with the audio-video set, the microphone, and loud speakers necessary to stay in contact with the interviewer.

 

 

 

Below you can see the interactive presentation of the Interview Room in "Mazowiecka" Center.

 

Attachment	Size
Interview Room.ppt	1.11 MB