Every Sign Is Evidence: ASL in Child Forensics
Pt. 1 & 2

In forensic interviews involving Deaf children and adolescents, every signed production may later be scrutinized as evidence in court. When interviewers lack knowledge of Deaf culture, visual attention patterns, or language deprivation, the risk of contamination increases. This workshop focuses on protecting ASL-based children within spoken-English investigative systems. Participants will examine how language deprivation across ages affects vocabulary, spatial description, and time concepts; how interviewer techniques such as offering options or multitasking can alter evidentiary meaning; and how camera positioning, interpreter visibility, and room dynamics influence the official record. The session will also address sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect investigations, including sensitive vocabulary and clarification boundaries. Emphasis is placed on maintaining evidentiary integrity while safeguarding Deaf children’s linguistic rights and the Deaf Interpreter’s professional credibility.

Jay Krieger