Accusations abound regarding questionable behavior on the part of Detectives Deal, Keith and Forensic Interviewer, Suzie Thorne, during the investigation and trial of Tonya Craft.
For the purpose of this article, I have researched information provided from news reports, fellow bloggers, such as William Anderson, and list groups; as well as the standards and guidelines for child sexual abuse investigation, criminal investigation, interviewing techniques, and forensic interviewing of possible child abuse victims, etc.
I also contacted Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA and Brandon A. Perron, CCDI, Director of Investigations. Both are very experienced, award winning, highly respected professionals in their fields.
Lt. Raymond Foster, author of "Police Technology" (Prentice Hall, July 2004) and numerous articles, has a BA in Criminal Justice Management, a Masters in Public Finance and is currently finishing his doctoral studies.
In addition to his writing, Lieutenant Foster is an adjunct faculty member at the Union Institute & University and is the founder and principal consultant of Hi Tech Criminal Justice. His consulting projects involve work with the Department of Homeland Security, several universities and non-profit agencies.
Brandon Perron, author of , Uncovering Reasonable Doubt: The Component Method, was named one of the “Top Ten Private Investigation Leaders in the United States” by P.I. Magazine in 1998; is an former U.S. Air Force Criminal Defense Investigator and National Director of The Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council. In 2007, Case in Point, of Boston, MA, and Manchestor, NH, named Brandon Perron its Strategic Operations Director. Mr. Perron provides management support and training for CIP's Criminal Investigation division. Mr. Perron was kind enough to grant me permission to extensively quote his article and website.
Documentation Standards, Part I
There are several things which I question in this case. And as it turns out, they're the same things, for the most part, that many others have been questioning as well. This includes interviewing techniques and documentation standards. Whether it's the medical field, criminal investigation, or the child advocacy field, we all have basically the same documentation standards which we're required to follow.
We are to document completely, accurately, and in a timely manner. Always. I do understand that, unlike FNE's, detectives may not always complete their documentation out in the field. That's understandable. However, they must complete their documentation as soon as possible and date/time it accurately.
There is to be no back dating of notes. Ever. An addendum may be added later, if something was forgotten. Then, it's done in a specific manner, with the current date and time, and the word addendum prior to our note, followed by our signature.
Source: Times Free Press
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/apr/21/witness-testimony-recounted-off-camera/
"(She) came into the conference room on her own and said she needed to tell me something else," said Suzie Thorne, a former forensic interviewer at the GreenHouse Children's Advocacy Center in Dalton, Ga.
"You didn't immediately take her back and put her in front of the camera and document what she was telling you, did you?" asked defense attorney Demosthenes Lorandos, who also is a clinical psychologist.
"No, I did not," Suzie Thorne responded.
Mr. Lorandos paced the courtroom floor for a few moments, then paused in front of Ms. Thorne.
"You didn't think to write it down?" he asked.
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