Appendix 3: Interview Guide

Interview Guide for CACs/CYACs Doing Virtual Testimony

  1. What type of CAC/CYAC model is the centre using? Tell us a bit about the decision to set up a dedicated space?
  2. Please describe the setup of the space and the technology used in the space dedicated to virtual testimony. For example,
    1. Is the remote testimony room in a separate space or is it a multi-purpose space?
    2. Do you have any photos that you could share?
    3. What was the overall cost?
    4. What is working well?
    5. What, if any, are the remaining challenges?
  3. What has your CAC/CYAC learned regarding the use of virtual testimony? Please consider the following aspects:
    1. Resources, processes and supporting tools such as protocols/policies – what needs to be in place?
    2. How is virtual testimony facilitated/accessed? Who requests it?
    3. Partnerships – who needs to be involved and when/how?
    4. Impacts on the child and their family/supports
    5. To the extent you can comment, impacts on the CJS professionals – Crown, defence, judge, court administration, etc.
  4. If you do not use your virtual testimony facilities regularly, why not?
    1. a) What are the barriers to increasing their use?
    2. b) What are some potential solutions to overcoming these barriers?
  5. Who has used the dedicated space to provide virtual testimony? For example, beyond child and youth clients of the CAC, have other professionals testified, or family members, or adults with disabilities?
    1. If so, how often have these requests occurred? Who initiated them?
    2. Were you able to accommodate these requests?
      1. If so, what process was followed? Were there any challenges?
      2. If not, what were the barriers to proceeding?
    3. Based on your experiences so far, what are the benefits and challenges in allowing other witnesses to testify from your CAC/CYAC?
  6. Do you currently collect any data on the use of virtual testimony in your facilities (e.g. frequency of use, type of offence, outcomes, impacts/perspectives of witnesses and their supports (support person, support animal, etc.))?
    1. If so, what data do you collect? How is it collected? Is it shared with partners?
    2. If not, would you have the capacity to collect such data? If so, how could this be facilitated? If not, what are the key barriers?

Note – The interview guide was adapted for CACs/CYACs considering virtual testimony or not considering it.