INVESTIGATION-INTERVIEW OUTLINE

CAPITAL OFFENSES

I. PRENATAL PERIOD

A. Mother

Family history

constellation

residential pattern, living environment

employment patterns

criminal involvement

patterns of abuse (physical, sexual, etc.)

Family health history

alcohol/substance abuse

mental health problems

physiological problems

Personal history

born, raised, school, marriages (significant

relationships), other children

employment history

history of victim of abuse (physical, sexual,

psych)

criminal history

Health history

developmental abnormalities

alcohol/substance use & abuse

treatment history, records

smoking, diet

serious illnesses, injuries, surgeries

treatment history, records

During pregnancy

doctor's care: who, where, records

medical course: diet, injuries, illnesses,

abuse, toxemia, etc.

family responsibilities: siblings, parents,

others

financial circumstances

living environment

employment

Bonding factors

primary relationship, recent deaths, finances,

ambivalence, career, etc.

B. Father:

Family history (see above)

Family health history (see above)

Personal history (see above)

Health history (see above)

During pregnancy

father's presence, alc/substance abuse,

criminal activity, employment, medical

treatment, psych treatment, attitude

toward pregnancy, violence

C. Extended Family:

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins

alc/substances/psych histories

residence, employment, criminal histories

involvement with parents and siblings

II. BIRTH

A. Circumstances:

Date, time, place

Attending physicians-primary, anesthesiologist

Hospital staff-nurses, social services

Records

Home birth

who was present, physical environment, etc.

B. Birth Process

Labor-length, drug induced

Birth weight and length

Normal-records

Complications-breach, C-section, oxygen

deprivation, placentia premia, etc.

Emergency services

Length of hospital stay

Private or public pay for services

C. In-Hospital Care

Nursery-special services, incubator, etc.

lead based paint

Trauma signs-hyperactivity, sleeplessness,

inability to be comforted, rigidity

Detoxification signs

D. Hospital Pre-release and Home Care Plan

Destination of mother and child

Adoption or foster care

Extended medical needs

AFDC or equivalent

CPS or equivalent referral

III. Birth to Six Months

A. Home Environment

Natural parent(s), foster, adoption

Parental figures-alc/substance abuse, mental

problems, criminal activity, employment,

medical problems and treatment

Siblings or equivalent-age, activities,

alc/substance abuse, criminal activity,

employment, care of parents

Others in home-same

Physical environment

Home location, neighborhood, socio-economic

description, type of residence (house,

apartment, etc.), furnishings, high crime

area

Residential changes-reason, how often

Income source-employment, extended family,

welfare, trust, etc.

Neighbors-who, locatable?, influence on family,

deviance history, observations

Daily contact with whom-parent(s), day care

(who, reliable, etc.), in-home babysitters,

extended family, other

B. Health

Medical care - physicians, clinics, hospitals

Frequency of exams - where, who, records

Extraordinary medical findings or care - type,

by whom, hospitalization, medications, etc.

Traumas - physical (injuries, head traumas, high

fevers), psychological, sexual (ritualistic

or otherwise), accidents (with or without

apparent injury)

Parental or other observations - withdrawn,

rigid, injuries not reported, agitated,

sleeplessness

Developmental signs - rolling over, alertness,

responsiveness, eating, weight gain or loss