Are officers allowed to interview children at the scene of a domestic assault?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only with guardian present
• D. Only after medical clearance

Answer: (A)

At a domestic assault scene, a child who is present can provide important information about what happened and whether they’re in danger, so officers may interview the child on the scene. The goal is to quickly assess safety and gather accurate facts using age-appropriate, trauma-informed interviewing techniques, and to involve a guardian or protective services as appropriate based on the situation; a blanket requirement for guardian presence or medical clearance before talking with the child is not necessary. Interviewing should be done in a safe, private, and non-coercive manner, prioritizing the child’s welfare and the reliability of the information. Therefore, officers are allowed to interview children at the scene.