The NICHD protocol: a review of an internationally-used evidence-based tool for training child forensic interviewers
| Date | 08 June 2015 |
| Pages | 76-89 |
| Published date | 08 June 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-01-2015-0001 |
| Author | David La Rooy,Sonja P Brubacher,Anu Aromäki-Stratos,Mireille Cyr,Irit Hershkowitz,Julia Korkman,Trond Myklebust,Makiko Naka,Carlos E. Peixoto,Kim P Roberts,Heather Stewart,Michael E Lamb |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
The NICHD protocol: a review of an
internationally-used evidence-based tool
for training child forensic interviewers
David La Rooy, Sonja P. Brubacher, Anu Aromäki-Stratos, Mireille Cyr, Irit Hershkowitz,
Julia Korkman, Trond Myklebust, Makiko Naka, Carlos E. Peixoto, Kim P. Roberts,
Heather Stewart and Michael E. Lamb
The authors affiliations can be
found at the end of this article.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to review an evidence-based tool for training child forensic
interviewers called the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Protocol (NICHD
Protocol), with a specific focus on how the Protocol is being adapted in various countries.
Design/methodology/approach –The authors include international contributions from experienced
trainers, practitioners, and scientists, who are already using the Protocol or whose national or regional
procedures have been directly influenced by the NICHD Protocol research (Canada, Finland, Israel, Japan,
Korea, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, and USA). Throughout the review, these experts comment on: how and
when the Protocol was adopted in their country; who uses it; training procedures; challenges to
implementation and translation; and other pertinent aspects. The authors aim to further promote good
interviewing practice by sharing the experiences of these international experts.
Findings –The NICHD Protocol can be easily incorporated into existing training programs worldwide and is
available for free. It was originally developed in English and Hebrew and is available in several other
languages.
Originality/value –This paper reviews an evidence-based tool for training child forensic interviewers called
the NICHD Protocol. It has been extensively studied and reviewed over the past 20 years. This paper is
unique in that it brings together practitioners who are actually responsible for training forensic interviewers
and conducting forensic interviews from all around the world.
Keywords Justice, Children, Evidence-based practice, Forensic, Interviewing, NICHD Protocol
Paper type General review
In this paper, we describe the evidence base, development, and structure of a training tool for
interviewing children known as the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Protocol (the NICHD Protocol). This tool was developed through the intensive efforts of US
Government Scientists at the National Institutes of Health in the 1990s and has been the subject
of intensive evaluation and research ever since (see Lamb et al., 2008).
Central to the development of interview guidelines has been knowledge of how memory
works, children’sdeve lopmental capabilities, and the conditions that improve children’s ability
to discuss their abuse experiences. After decades of experimental and applied research
conducted primarily by psychologists we understand the strengths, weaknesses, and
features of children’s memory, and this knowledge has shaped the development of many
valuable interview protocols and professional recommendations about interviewing children
(e.g. American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, 1990, 1997; Home Office,
Received 7 January 2015
Revised 10 February 2015
Accepted 5 March 2015
PAG E 76
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
VOL. 1 NO. 2 2015, pp.76- 89,© E meraldGroup Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841 DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-01-2015-0001
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