Won’t it seem odd to the child if the handler is wearing headphones during the forensic interview?
A forensic interviewer should always explain to the child what is occurring during the forensic interview. This may include showing the child where hidden cameras are located that will tape the interview (and explaining that no one other than the team will see the tape, and that it will not be placed on the internet or shown to friends and family). It is also a good time to explain the presence of the handler and that the handler is not there to listen, but to simply be with his/her therapy animal, and that wearing headphones will make sure that the handler does not hear what the child is saying. The interviewer could inform the child, “When I talk to kids, it’s important to me that they have as much privacy as possible. So the handler is going to wear headphones because his/her job is just to be here for the therapy animal and not hear our conversation.” For a younger child, “I don’t think kids should have to talk to lots of people unless they want to, so the handler is going to wear
