Allegation Rates in Forensic Child Abuse Investigations: Comparing the Revised and Standard NICHD Protocols

Four hundred twenty-six 4- to 13-year-old suspected victims of intrafamilial abuse were interviewed using either the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Investigative Interview Standard Protocol (SP) or a revised version of this Protocol (RP) designed to both enhance rapport between children and interviewers and provide additional nonsuggestive support to suspected victims who might be reluctant to make allegations. All allegations were corroborated by independent evidence documenting that the alleged abuse had indeed taken place. Analyses revealed that children were significantly more likely to make allegations of abuse when the RP rather than the SP was employed. These results suggest that supportive forensic interviewing may facilitate valid reports of abuse by young victims who might otherwise be unwilling to make allegations.