Barnahus Model · Supports the Méndez Principles · Made in Germany
Child-Friendly Interview Recording
- Supports the Méndez Principles
- Based on the Barnahus Model
- Made in Germany
Every Repeat Interview Makes Victims and Witnesses Relive What Happened
Child-friendly interviews place special demands on technology, law and organisation.
Psychological Burden
Repeat interviews, confrontation with the accused and an intimidating courtroom atmosphere place an additional burden on children.
Legal Requirements
Requirements such as expedited proceedings for minors and the avoidance of repeated questioning, in Germany for example under Sections 48a and 58a StPO.
Technical Deficits
In many places, suitable technical equipment and child-friendly interview rooms are lacking.
Evidence Quality
Written notes are subjectively filtered, non-verbal communication is lost, and credibility assessment becomes harder.
You’re the Experts in Interviewing Children
We know what a recording needs to stand up in proceedings, and how to keep the technology in the background so the child can engage with the conversation. Mangold International provides the technology, installation, user training and support.
More Than 35 Years of Experience
More than 35 years of expertise in professional audio and video recording technology.
More Than 50 Systems in Hesse
Statewide use at the Hessian State Criminal Police Office, including in child-friendly interview suites.
Comprehensive Support
From initial set-up and user introduction to ongoing operation.
Three Steps
How Your Organisation Gets Started With Child-Friendly Interview Recording
- 1
Define Rooms and Procedures
Together we define the interview room, observation room, locations and IT requirements of your organisation.
- 2
Set Up and Introduce
Mangold International installs the interview room with full room coverage or delivers ready-to-use trolley cases, and introduces your users to the system.
- 3
Interview Once
Record at the push of a button, interview the child once, and play the recording back in proceedings as often as required.
Child Welfare Protection
The child only has to tell their story once: high-quality audio-visual recordings protect children from repeat interviews and stressful situations.
Avoid Repeat Interviews
High-quality audio-visual recordings can be used in court proceedings without requiring the child to give their account again.
Protected Interview Environment
Child-friendly rooms with separate entrances, and no confrontation with the accused thanks to video transmission to other rooms.
Reduced Burden
The interview recording replaces stressful testimony in the courtroom. Children do not have to describe traumatic experiences multiple times.
The Account as It Was Given
Complete capture of what happened, for a transparent assessment of the account.
Unlike written notes, video recording captures facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice and the entire course of the interview in full.
Courts and experts can follow non-verbal communication and the interview situation, an important basis for credibility assessments.
Multiple synchronised cameras document the room, participants and details. Full room coverage helps rule out allegations of outside influence.
Traceable Documentation
Documentation designed for use as evidence in court.
Complete Metadata
Automatic capture of case numbers, date, time, location and timecode, designed for the requirements of video-recorded interviews.
Authenticity Verification
Real-time checksums detect any alteration to the recording, and AES-256 encryption protects the data.
Proof of Proper Conduct
A complete recording protects everyone involved by documenting how the interview was conducted, including logged breaks.
Mobile and Stationary Systems
Solutions for any location, from child-friendly interview suites to courthouses.
Mobile Interview System
Complete System in Rolling Case
Available anywhere, including child-friendly interview suites, hospitals or correctional facilities. No fixed infrastructure required.
Ready in 5 Minutes
Quick set-up enables flexible on-site use without elaborate preparation.
Proven in Statewide Use
More than 50 mobile systems in statewide use, e.g. with the Hessian State Criminal Police Office.
Stationary Interview Room
Child-Friendly Room Design
Friendly atmosphere and child-appropriate furniture create a comfortable environment for sensitive interviews.
Separate Control Rooms
Live transmission to adjacent rooms enables observation without direct presence (voice-of-god function).
Suitable for Separate Interviewing
Separate interview without confrontation between the child and the accused.
Mangold VideoSyncPro Software
Operation with minimal training, for recordings that are documented in a traceable way.
Easy Operation
Can be operated with minimal training, so interviewers can focus on the conversation with the child.
Real-Time Watermarks
Automatic display of metadata such as case number, date and time for traceable, verifiable documentation.
Markers and Reports
Timestamps for important moments and automatic PDF report generation for complete documentation.
Security & Data Protection
AES-256 Encryption
AES-256 data encryption using methods recommended by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).
Automated Integrity Check
Checksums secure the integrity of recordings and detect any alteration.
Role-Based Access Management
Only authorised personnel have access to sensitive interview recordings.
GDPR-Compliant Processing
All data is processed on-premise, with no cloud transmission of sensitive interview data.
AI-Powered Transcription
Less effort in documentation, completely offline and GDPR-compliant.
No internet connection required, all data remains on the interview system.
Transcription in various languages with automatic speaker identification.
Automatic transcription reduces the effort required for documentation.
Supporting the Implementation of the Méndez Principles
The Méndez Principles recognise recording as a safeguard for interviewees and interviewers alike. When children are interviewed, a complete recording makes it transparent and verifiable how the interview was conducted. It also provides a basis for reviewing your own interviewing practice.
Tell It Once, Not Again and Again
More than 50 systems in use across the German state of Hesse, including in child-friendly interview suites. Talk to us about the rooms, locations and procedures of your organisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a child-friendly forensic interview?
A child-friendly forensic interview is the structured, trauma-informed interviewing of a child as a witness or victim of a crime. It follows established protocols such as the NICHD protocol, documents the account in full on video, designed for use as evidence in court, and avoids repeat interviews to prevent re-traumatisation of the child.
What is a Barnahus or Childhood House?
A Barnahus, also known as a Childhood House, is an interdisciplinary centre for the interviewing and care of child victims and witnesses. It brings together police, justice, paediatrics and psychological support under one roof. The model was originally developed in Scandinavia.
How does the system support interviews following the NICHD protocol?
The system is suitable for interviews following the NICHD protocol. It enables continuous recording of the entire interview structure (pre-substantive phase, substantive phase, closure), with a marker system for protocol phases, a separate observation room for the multidisciplinary team, voice-of-god communication between observation and interview rooms, and AES-256 encryption.
Can multiple observers view from the observation room?
Yes. The observation room is designed for viewing by the multidisciplinary team (prosecutors, police, child welfare, therapists and, where applicable, the defence). Push-to-talk and voice-of-god functions allow guidance of the interviewer without disturbing the atmosphere in the interview room.
Which standards and protocols are supported?
The system is suitable for interviews following the NICHD protocol and for child-friendly interview suites based on the Barnahus model. In Germany, for example, it is designed for interviews under Sections 58a, 168e and 255a of the German Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO).
Is it possible to pause the video recording?
Yes. Mangold VideoSyncPro supports a pause function that allows confidential consultations with a lawyer without interrupting the overall documentation. All necessary interruptions are logged in the recording but contain no confidential audio or video data, so privacy is preserved and the record remains complete.
How are recordings secured?
All recordings can be AES-256 encrypted and equipped with checksums that detect any alteration. They are managed through a role-based access system.
What are the Méndez Principles, and how does audio-visual recording support their implementation?
The Méndez Principles (Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering, 2021) are a non-binding instrument of international law for fair, effective and non-coercive interviewing, supported in 2022 by 53 UN member states, including Germany. They recognise audio and video recording as an effective means of improving evidence gathering and protecting against abuse. In child-friendly interviewing, a complete recording supports their implementation: the interview with the child remains transparent, and the child does not have to repeat their account.