Subdivision 1. Policy. It is the policy of this state to encourage adequate and accurate documentation of the number and content of interviews conducted with alleged child abuse victims during the course of a child abuse assessment, criminal investigation, or prosecution, and to discourage interviews that are unnecessary, duplicative, or otherwise not in the best interests of the child.

Subd. 2. Definitions. As used in this section:

(1) "child abuse" means physical or sexual abuse as defined in section 626.556, subdivision 2;

(2) "government employee" means an employee of a state or local agency, and any person acting as an agent of a state or local agency;

(3) "interview" means a statement of an alleged child abuse victim which is given or made to a government employee during the course of a child abuse assessment, criminal investigation, or prosecution; and

(4) "record" means an audio or videotape recording of an interview, or a written record of an interview.

Subd. 3. Record required. Whenever an interview is conducted, the interviewer must make a record of the interview. The record must contain the following information:

(1) the date, time, place, and duration of the interview;

(2) the identity of the persons present at the interview; and

(3) if the record is in writing, a summary of the information obtained during the interview.

The records shall be maintained by the interviewer in accordance with applicable provisions of section 626.556, subdivision 11 and chapter 13.

Subd. 4. Guidelines on tape recording of interviews. Every county attorney's office shall be responsible for developing written guidelines on the tape recording of interviews by government employees who conduct child abuse assessments, criminal investigations, or prosecutions. The guidelines are public data as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 14.

History: 1985 c 286 s 21