LISTEN TO THE VICTIMS.



          It is not the investigator's duty to believe the victims; it is his 

          or her job to listen and be an objective fact finder. Interviews of 

          young children should be done by investigators trained and 

          experienced in such interviews. Investigators must have direct 

          access to the alleged victims for interview purposes. Therapists for 

          an adult survivor sometimes want to act as intermediaries in their 

          patient's interview. This should be avoided if at all possible. 

          Adult survivor interviews are often confusing difficult and 

          extremely time-consuming. The investigator must remember however 

          that almost anything is possible. Most important the investigator 

          must remember that there is much middle ground. Just because one 

          event did happen does not mean that all reported events happened, 

          and just because one event did not happen does not mean that all 

          other events did not happen. Do not become such a zealot that you 

          believe it all nor such a cynic that you believe nothing. Varying 

          amounts and parts of the allegation may be factual. Attempting to 

          find evidence of what did happen is the great challenge of these 

          cases. *All* investigative interaction with victims must be 

          carefully and thoroughly documented.