The resource project
Working with Police
If you believe a criminal offence may have occurred, contact your local police service. If a child is currently at risk of harm, you also have a legal duty to report your concerns to your local Children's Aid Society.
You Are Not Alone. Learning that your child may have experienced sexual abuse can be one of the most overwhelming moments in a parent's life. It is normal to feel frightened, angry, confused, or unsure of what to do next.
The good news is that you do not have to navigate this alone. In Halton Region, police, Children's Aid Society (CAS), medical professionals, victim services, and trauma therapists work together to help protect children and support families.
Although every family's experience is unique, understanding what to expect can help reduce some of the uncertainty.
Your First Priority: Safety
Before making any phone calls, ask yourself one question:
Is my child safe right now?
If your child is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical attention, call 911 immediately.
If the person who harmed your child has access to them, take steps to ensure your child is somewhere safe.
Be sure to keep any potential evidence safe and unchanged - such as clothing, devices or written notes. Avoid washing, deleting, altering or unnecessarily examining anything, and ask police how they would like you to preserve or provide it.
What to Expect from the Police
Police investigate whether a criminal offence may have occurred.
Their responsibilities may include:
interviewing witnesses
collecting evidence
obtaining digital evidence
reviewing medical information
executing search warrants when appropriate
interviewing the alleged offender
consulting with Crown Attorneys
deciding whether criminal charges should be laid
Not every investigation results in criminal charges.
This does not mean your child was not believed.
Criminal investigations require evidence that meets a very high legal standard.
Common Questions Regarding Reporting to the Police
What Happens When I Call?
The person answering the phone will ask questions to determine how urgent the situation is.
You may be asked:
Your child's name and age
Your contact information
What your child disclosed
When the abuse happened (if known)
Whether the child is currently safe
Whether the alleged offender still has access to the child
Whether medical care is needed
It is okay if you do not know all of the answers. Simply tell them what you know.
What Should I Tell Them?
Share only factual information. See more information about this in the “Dealing with the Children’s Aid Society”.
Will My Child Be Interviewed?
Possibly. If police determine an interview is needed, it will usually be conducted by a specially trained forensic interviewer. This interview can be done in a soft space, meaning it is a less formal space meant to help children feel safer. In Halton, The Ironwood Project in Halton Hills is a safe disclosure space used by Halton Regional Police Services.
These interviews are designed to:
reduce stress for children
obtain accurate information
avoid repeated interviews
provide evidence that may be used during an investigation
Parents are usually not present during the interview. Although this can feel difficult, it helps ensure children speak freely and without influence.
What Is a Forensic Interview?
A forensic interview is a structured conversation designed specifically for children.
The interviewer uses developmentally appropriate language and allows the child to describe events in their own words.
The interview is often video recorded so that children do not have to repeat their story multiple times.
Children are never expected to know legal terminology or remember every detail.
It is okay for a child to say:
"I don't know."
"I don't remember."
"I don't understand."
Will My Child Need a Medical Examination?
The answer is- sometimes.
A medical examination may be recommended if:
the abuse happened recently,
your child has pain or injuries,
there are concerns about sexually transmitted infections,
pregnancy is possible,
forensic evidence may still be available.
Many children who disclose abuse do not require an emergency examination.
The medical team will explain why an examination is or is not recommended.
Important Note
Your child does not have to remember everything at once - or tell their story perfectly. It is okay for a child to say “I don't know” or “I don't remember.” Listen and reassure them, but don't rehearse or practise their story with them. Trained interviewers will help your child share what they remember in their own words.
What If My Child Changes Their Story?
Children who have experienced trauma sometimes remember events gradually.
They may disclose information over days, weeks, months, or even years. Changes in the amount of detail shared do not automatically mean a child is lying. Trauma can affect memory, emotions, and the ability to describe difficult experiences. Investigators and trauma professionals understand this.
What Happens Next?
Every investigation is different, but many families experience a process similar to this:
Disclosure
The child is made safe.
Police and/or Children's Aid Society are contacted.
Initial assessment.
Forensic interview (if needed).
Medical care (if appropriate).
Victim Services becomes involved.
Counselling begins.
Investigation continues.
Charges may or may not be laid.
Court process (if applicable).
Long-term healing and recovery.
Healing does not begin when the investigation ends. For many families, healing begins the moment a child is believed, protected, and supported.
Will my child have to testify?
Some children do, but many cases are resolved without a child testifying in court. If testimony is required, supports are available to help children prepare.
Should I confront the person who harmed my child?
It is generally best not to confront the alleged offender before speaking with police. Confrontation can affect an investigation, place you or your child at risk, or give the person an opportunity to destroy evidence or influence witnesses.
What if the abuse happened years ago?
You can still report it. Many sexual offences involving children can be reported regardless of how much time has passed. If you're unsure, speak with your local police service.
Questions to Ask Police
What happens next?
Will my child need a forensic interview?
Who will contact us?
Will charges be laid immediately?
How long will the investigation take?
Is there a Victim Services worker assigned?
Are there bail conditions?
What should I tell my child?
Should I preserve any evidence?
Who do I contact if I have additional information?
The Essentials
Tell police what you know - you don't need all the answers.
Listen, but don't question, rehearse or coach your child.
Preserve potential evidence without examining or altering it.
No charges does not mean your child wasn't believed.
for additional reading and listening:
Children’s Advocacy Centres - Department of Justice Canada
A Canadian overview of how Children’s Advocacy Centres bring police, child protection, medical and mental-health professionals together to provide a more coordinated and child-friendly response to abuse investigations. Research summarized by Justice Canada also found greater parent satisfaction with investigation and interview procedures when children received services through an advocacy centre.
Learn about Children’s Advocacy Centres in CanadaThe Medical Evaluation of Pre-Pubertal Children with Suspected Sexual Abuse - Canadian Paediatric Society
Canadian guidance explaining when a medical examination may be recommended following suspected child sexual abuse, including considerations around injuries, STI testing, forensic evidence and urgent versus non-urgent care. It also explains how medical care, child welfare, law enforcement and Child and Youth Advocacy Centres may work together.
Read the Canadian Paediatric Society guidanceTrauma-Informed Child Forensic Interviews - Public Safety Canada / Toronto Police Service
Detective Constable Dayna Boyko of the Toronto Police Service explains how forensic interviews with children are conducted using a trauma-informed approach. The presentation discusses why specially trained interviewers use open-ended, neutral questions and how a child’s age, development and individual needs are considered during the interview process. A helpful Canadian resource for parents wanting to better understand what their child may experience during a police interview.
Watch Trauma-Informed Child Forensic InterviewsThe Power of Trauma-Informed Forensic Interviews in Child Protection - Justice Interrupted
This 2025 episode features Jackie Block Goldstein, a former FBI child/adolescent forensic interviewer and victim specialist. It explains what a forensic interview is, why children are interviewed by specially trained professionals, how trauma and disclosure can affect what a child says, and—particularly useful for your page—how parents can support a child before an interview without questioning, rehearsing or coaching them. It is U.S.-based, so Canadian sources should take precedence for legal and investigative procedures.
Listen on Apple Podcasts
This information reflects current trauma-informed guidance from the Ontario child advocacy centres, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, BOOST Child & Youth Advocacy Centre, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, the Canadian Paediatric Society, and peer-reviewed research on child development and recovery following childhood sexual abuse.
For a complete list of sources, websites, organizations and publications referenced in The Resource Project, please go to our section on References.