Equipment of friendly interrogation rooms
In 2007, the Ministry of Justice and the Dajemy Dzieciom Siłę Foundation (formerly the Nobody’s Children Foundation), in cooperation with the Coalition for Friendly Interrogation of Children, formulated standards for the place of interrogation of children, which the Friendly Interrogation Room for Children should meet. These standards specify the premises and technical requirements, and take into account the psychological needs of the child and the requirements of the judiciary related to the interrogation procedure. Rooms that meet these standards are certified by the Ministry of Justice and the Nobody’s Children Foundation.
The main purpose of developing and popularizing standards for interrogation rooms for minor witnesses ( so-called blue rooms, blue rooms) is to provide children, who are most often victims of abuse and violence, with friendly interrogation conditions. Such conditions that will minimize the child’s stress and gather reliable evidence. The so-called blue room allows children to be interrogated in an almost home-like environment. There are no bars or desks in it, but there are toys, books and a table where children can sit and talk calmly.
Friendly interrogation room
constitute, in fact, two rooms. In the first, the interrogation of a child (or adult) is conducted with the participation of a psychologist and a judge. In the second room, the so-called technical room, there may be other persons involved in the procedure, such as a lawyer or a prosecutor, and possibly a technician operating the audio-video recording equipment, microphone and speakers.
A venetian mirror may be installed between the rooms. However, it is not required if (e.g., on a TV screen) it is possible to observe from the technical room what is happening in the interrogation room.
The equipment installed by our company in a friendly interrogation room (blue room, blue room) is characterized by a high level of discretion. At first glance, such a room looks like any other room. But in fact it is equipped with advanced electronic devices.
The technical equipment of the interrogation rooms are:
- cameras recording the interrogation (the entire interrogation room and a record of the child’s gestures, facial expressions and movements);
- microphones;
- Equipment that allows audio and video recording of the hearing on two media;
- headphones for the judge and the expert psychologist;
- Microphones for those in the technical room;
- equipment to record the questions of the participants in the procedural activity who are in the technical room
Cameras and microphones, contrary to general opinion, are not particularly hidden. Experience shows that children quickly get used to the presence of these objects in the room, stop paying attention to them. Thus, it is unnecessary and even inadvisable to hide cameras or microphones. The recorded interrogation can be easily and quickly recorded on any storage medium and included as evidence in the case.
Room two is intended for adults who participate in the legal procedure. It is adequately illuminated and equipped with audio-video apparatus.
Observation of the interrogation is carried out through high-quality cameras, so that even the slightest reaction can be seen. In addition, the system allows two-way communication between the interrogators and those in the technical room. To enable those in the room to ask questions, the interrogator has a microphone in his ear, where he can hear questions and suggestions from the observers.
The system for viewing and recording the course of the hearing ensures high intelligibility of speech (sounds) and good resolution of the recorded image. The format in which the audio and visual material is recorded is compatible with the equipment available in the courtrooms. Recording of recordings is carried out on two different media.
Information about the existence and need for friendly interrogation rooms ( blue rooms, blue rooms),should be widespread in the legal world. Both prosecutors and attorneys should strive to ensure that procedural activities especially involving children take place only in such rooms. Such activities mean less stress for the child, as well as impartial and reliable evidence.
Standards of the place of interrogation of children that the Friendly Children's Interrogation Room should meet
The main purpose of developing and popularizing standards for children’s hearing rooms is to provide child victims of abuse and violence with friendly hearing conditions that will minimize the child’s stress and gather reliable evidence. The basic conditions that institutions and establishments must meet in order for the interrogation rooms they run to be recognized as a child-friendly interrogation room are adequate child-friendly premises adapted to the needs of the justice system, and the provision of support and information on psychological, medical and legal assistance to the child and his guardians.
Such premises must meet the following conditions:
- Organizational capacity: The Children’s Hearing Room is run by an incorporated entity that ensures its administration.
- Child-friendly room: the unit has comfortable, privacy-providing premises equipped according to the needs of the child to ensure children’s physical and psychological safety during interrogation.
- Ensures that the interrogation of the child is conducted exclusively by the judge with the participation of a psychologist, while allowing other persons (the prosecutor, the defendant’s lawyer, the auxiliary prosecutor, etc.), who are in a separate room, to participate in the interrogation. This possibility is provided by a venetian glass between the rooms and/or direct transmission of the interrogation and a system of communication between the rooms;
- It provides an opportunity for a child to wait for questioning in a friendly place where the accused is not allowed to enter. The waiting room is equipped to provide the child with an active waiting time (toys, books, magazines, crayons, etc.). However, it does not have educational and informational materials on violence and sexual abuse;
- Provides intimacy for the child by muting the door between the hearing room and other room(s);
- It is maintained in muted pastel colors;
- It is furnished in a way that makes it comfortable for younger and older children (tables and chairs in two sizes, sofa or armchair, soft carpeting);
- It is equipped with materials and equipment to help get information from the child (crayons, paper, puppets, pacemakers, etc.), which are not directly accessible to the child.
3 Interrogation for justice: In the room, it is possible to record the interrogation so that its course can be replayed at the main hearing. The possibility is also provided for those participating in the interrogation (the prosecutor, the defendant’s lawyer) to communicate with the judge and the psychologist in order to convey to them the questions to be asked of the child.
In order to ensure that the aforementioned needs of justice are met, the interrogation room should be equipped with:
- Camera(s) recording the interrogation (entire room + child’s behaviors and reactions);
- Audio recording microphone(s);
- Equipment that allows audio-video recording of the hearing on two media;
- Microphone in the room adjacent to the room where the child is being questioned and
- Headphones for judge and psychologist.
4 Information on the offer of assistance and support for the child-victim and his guardians: guaranteeing the child’s guardians comprehensive information on the possibility of obtaining specialized psychological, therapeutic, medical and legal assistance is an essential part of the offer of the Friendly Child Hearing Room. Such information refers to the offer of assistance provided by the unit running the interrogation room or by other cooperating centers. The guardian of each interrogated child shall receive written information on such offer.
Friendly Interrogation Rooms certified by the Ministry of Justice :
- Center for Assistance to Alcohol Addicts and Their Families in Bytom.
- Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights in Warsaw – LOST
- District Family Assistance Center in Ropczyce
- District Court in Chorzow
- District Court for Łódź Śródmieście
- District Court in Mysliborz
- District Court in Sejny
- District Police Headquarters in Lancut- LOST
- Children’s Aid Center “Mazowiecka” in Warsaw
- Child and Family Support Center in Ruda Śląska
- District Police Headquarters in Sieradz
- District Police Headquarters in Kościan
- District Court in Gryfice – LOST
- Swinoujscie City Police Station
- District Police Headquarters in Lobez- LOST
- Municipal Social Assistance Center – Crisis Intervention Center in Plock
- District Court in Mielec
- District Court in Strzelce Krajeńskie
- District Police Headquarters in Gorlice – LOST
- District Family Assistance Center in Olecko
- Territorial Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights in Leszno
- Crisis Intervention Center in Nowy Sacz
- Suwałki District Police Headquarters
- District Family Assistance Center in Giżycko
- District Police Headquarters in Nakło nad Notecią
- Municipal Police Headquarters in Lublin
- District Family Assistance Center in Ostrzeszów
- District Court in Jawor
- District Police Headquarters in Lukow
- Crisis Intervention Center at the Child and Family Support Center “Koło” in Warsaw
- District Court Lublin-West in Lublin
- Grudziadz Society for Helping Children and Families “Homini” in Grudziadz
- District Court in Tarnobrzeg
- Therapy Center for Children and Adolescents from Alcoholic Families PZOZ in Gdansk
- District Police Headquarters in Żagań
- District Family Assistance Center in New Town Lubawski
- Area Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights in Poznań
- District Family Assistance Center- Crisis Intervention Center in Krotoszyn
- District Police Headquarters in Lezajsk
- Caritas Social Center in Stargard Szczeciński
- District Court Szczecin Centrum
- Karol Olgierd Borchardt Emergency Care Center in Gdansk.
- District Court in Biała Podlaska
- Family Diagnostic and Consultation Center in Chelm – LOST
- District Court in Kłodzko
- NON LICET Foundation in Wroclaw
- District Court Katowice-Zachód
- District Court in Slawno
- District Court in Zgierz
- Specialized Support Center for Victims of Family Violence in Bialogard
- District Court in Łowicz
- Specialized Support Center for Victims of Family Violence in Jaksice (Inowrocław)
- District Court in Dzierżoniów
- Crisis Intervention Center in Kalisz
- Psychoeducation Center for Addiction Prevention and Family Support in Ilawa
- District Court in Gliwice
- District Court in Debica
- District Court in Wolow
- District Court in Stalowa Wola
- VI Police Station in Krakow
- AZYL” Association for Assistance to Women and Children Victims of Violence in Toruń
- Radziejów District Court
- District Family Assistance Center in Bartoszyce
- District Court in Zielona Góra
- District Court in Gryfice
- District Court in Wyszków
- District Court Poznań Nowe Miasto and Wilda
- Goleniow District Court
- District Court in Opole
- District Court in Kęzierzyn-Koźle
- District Family Assistance Center in Gryfino
- Family Diagnostic and Consultation Center in Chelm
- District Court in Lipno – Regional Division in Rypin
- District Court in Łomża
- VOLTA Medical Center
- Sąd Rejonowt w BiałymstokuDom Dziecka w Łobzie
- Psychological and Pedagogical Clinic in Nowy Tomysl
- District Court in Słubice
- District Court in Gorzow Wielkopolski
- District Court in Grójec
- Family Diagnostic and Consultation Center No. 2 in Warsaw
- District Court in Lipno
- Olkusz District Court
- Olsztyn District Court
- District Court in Radomsko
- District Court in Ząbkowice Śląskie
- District Court in Opoczno
- Przemyśl District Court
- District Court in Belchatow
- Tarnów District Court
- District Court in Slupsk
- Regional Court in Slupsk
- District Court in Łańcut
- District Court in Kolobrzeg
- District Court in Brzeg
- Psychological and Pedagogical Clinic in Zabrze
- District Court in Zabrze
- District Court in Włocławek
- District Court in Limanowa
- District Court in Opole
- District Prosecutor’s Office in Swinoujscie
- Staszow District Court
- East Lodz District Police Station.
- District Court in Trzcianka
- District Court Poznań – Stare Miasto
- Piła District Court
- District Court of Koszalin
- Koszalin District Court
- Children’s Home in Chelmno
- Chelm City Police Station
* the sequence number corresponds to the Certificate number.
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