2006 Minnesota Code
Chapters 625 - 634 Criminal Procedure
Chapter 626 Training; Investigation, Apprehension; Reports
Section 626.561 INTERVIEWS WITH CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS.

626.561 INTERVIEWS WITH CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS.
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:
(a) "child abuse" means physical or sexual abuse as defined in section 626.556, subdivision 2;
(b) "government employee" means an employee of a state or local agency, and any person
acting as an agent of a state or local agency;
(c) "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
(d) "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