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Date: 08/28/92 Revision: 05/28/20 Reviewed: 10/08/24 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Number: GEN 513.07 Page: 1 of 2 SUBJECT: INTERVIEWS; JUVENILE; CHILD; SEXUAL ABUSE; CHILD ABUSE ; VIDEO RECORDED INTERVIEWS I. PURPOSE : The purpose of this standard o perating procedure is to define the reasonable limits regarding the number of interviews of young victims in child abuse and child sexual abuse cases , as set forth by the Chief Judge of the Judicial C ircuit. II. SCOPE : This procedure shall apply to all Sheriff's Office personnel. * III. DISCUSSION : Florida Statute require s the Chief J udge of the Judicial Circuit set limits and restrictions on interviewing the victims of child and s exual abuse and videotaping of statements made by such victims. All parties and agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and child sexual abuse cases should coordinate their investigations to limit the number of interviews con ducted . IV. DEFINITIONS : * A. Child - for the purposes o f this procedure , a child is defined as any person under 16 years of age. B. Interview - any procedure in which the victim is required to provide a detailed account or demonstration of the nature a nd circumstances of the incident. An interview does not include the initial contact by law enforcement to establish the validity of the complaint. V. PROCEDURE : A. Number of Interviews 1. The number of interviews in child abuse and child sexual abuse c ases shall be limited as follows: a. Two interviews by th e investigating law enforcement agency , which includes an initial interview by the assigned detective and a follow -up interview , only as necessary. b. These two interviews granted to the law enforce ment agency do not include the initial contact made by the investigating deputy , even if that deputy is a uniformed patrol child abuse investigator. 2. Interviews shall be conducted in a setting and manner intended to minimize the traumatic effects of the interview. 3. Additional interviews may be allowed upon o rder of the trial Judge. B. Video Recorded Interviews 1. Video recorded interviews, if necessary, shall be conducted by one individual regardless of the number of agencies requesting the interview . This does not GEN 513.07 05/28 /20 Page 2 of 2 preclude other agencies or individuals present at the interview from providing the interviewer questions necessary for their investigation. 2. The video interviews should be conducted and video recorded at the Children's Advocacy Center or any other appropriate facility as designated by the Chief Judge. 3. The interview shall be conducted by an individual specifically trained in techniques for interviewing victims of child abuse or child sexual abuse. 4. All video recorded interviews conduc ted at Sheriff’s Office facilities shall be recorded utilizing the Security Desk Recording system. 5. Any person who is in possession of a compact disc with the recording shall not duplicate it for disclosure to anyone, except for the State Attorney’s Office or another law enforcement agency the Sheriff’s Office may be assisting with the interview, without prior written order of the court. 6. At the conclusion of a sexual battery investigation, the case detective shall afford the victim and parent/ legal guard ian, the opportunity to review the ir interview once it has been approved by a C riminal Investigations Division supervisor. The case detective shall: a. Use caution not to release confidential information as outlined in GEN SOP 118.00 . b. Obtain a signed Victim’s Review of Statement form. c. Submit the completed form as an MRE attachment. d. Document the meeting or if the victim refused/was unavailable to review the statement . e. Not release a copy of the statement/ report. Requests should be made to the Records Se ction pursua nt to F lorida Statute 119.07 (2). Chad Chronister Sheriff Amends or Supersed es: SO 1110.22