Forensic interviews are structured processes in which victims or suspects provide information about an incident under scientific and ethical principles, and the collected data are analyzed from both psychological and legal perspectives. In some cases, these interviews serve as the sole source of evidence, making memory the critical evidence base. However, memory is inherently vulnerable to distortions caused by repeated questioning, suggestive techniques, and interviews conducted by non-experts. Vulnerable populations, such as children, women exposed to violence, or refugees, face additional disadvantages in terms of accuracy, consistency, and resistance to memory errors.
To address these concerns, Turkiye established Child Advocacy Centers in 2010 and Forensic Interview Rooms in 2017. Child Advocacy Centers aim to obtain the testimony of abused children as quickly as possible, in a single session, by a psychologist or social worker to reduce potential memory errors and contradictory statements. Forensic Interview Rooms were developed to extend structured interviewing to other vulnerable groups, such as juveniles pushed to crime and women subjected to violence. Despite their widespread establishment, these institutions have been criticized for underperforming.
One major challenge is the insufficient academic foundation of interviewers. Personnel are often trained through short in-service programs provided by ministries rather than through specialized graduate education in forensic psychology. Currently, only two of Turkiye's 209 universities offer graduate programs in forensic psychology, while one provides postgraduate education in forensic social sciences. Furthermore, limited staffing and the employment of professionals without advanced training reduce the quality and comprehensiveness of interviews.
In conclusion, while the establishment of these institutions represents an important milestone in the development of forensic practices in Turkiye, strengthening graduate-level education in forensic psychology and ensuring adequate personnel capacity remain essential. Improving these areas will enhance the protection of victims' rights and support the healthy functioning of the justice system from a psycho-legal perspective.