Police Services
Police investigators from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, Service de protection des citoyens de Laval and other area forces, interview the child at the Centre d'expertise Marie-Vincent.
The police investigator's main objective is to record the child's truest testimony of the events by letting him speak freely, and without leading him on or influencing remembrance of the event. All the police investigators that work at the Centre are professionally trained to conduct these types of interview with young children. If needed, the police investigator may also call on one of the Centre's professionals for help while conducting the interview.
Police investigators conduct the interview in a room equipped with high-tech audiovisual recording devices. Special attention is paid to the environment in which the interviews are held in respect to prescribed legal norms, as these recordings could be used in court. The environment aims at making the child feel safe and confident. All police investigators are dressed as civilians and the interview generally last about 45 minutes.
Police investigators work closely with the counsellors from Personalized Services for parents. Upon disclosure, if the parent(s) or accompanying adult wishes so, a counsellor from the Centre will be appointed to the case and will accompany them through the different stages of the process, whether they are social, judicial or medical.
