For juvenile interviews, which statement about recording is accurate?

• A. It must be audio and video recorded
• B. It is optional to record
• C. It must be audio and video recorded, and if the juvenile states they won't talk you should still record and then write down the conversation
• D. It cannot be recorded

Answer: (C)

Recording juvenile interviews in both audio and video creates a reliable, verifiable record of what was said and how it was said. Video captures nonverbal cues and demeanor, helping assess voluntariness and potential coercion, while audio preserves the exact statements. Department policy requires this recording for juvenile interviews. If the juvenile states they won’t talk, you should still record the interaction and then write a contemporaneous account of what occurred, including the refusal and any attempts to engage, because documenting both silence and the investigator’s efforts provides a complete picture for later review or court use. This approach protects the juvenile’s rights and supports accurate, transparent documentation. The other options miss important aspects: recording isn’t optional, and relying on only audio or denying recording altogether would fail to capture the full context and comply with policy.