The department plans to continue using the technology, called the Computer Voice Stress Analyzer, to interview parents and family members in some circumstances, but not covertly, according to Cynthia Weiss, the department’s communications director.
Weiss said the agency was revoking the covert-interview policy, which was set Dec. 23. Weiss said the department decided to pull the policy last week, after attorney Gregg Woodnick, who defends parents accused of child abuse or neglect, raised questions about it.
“It’s a new tool,” Weiss said Tuesday, adding that DCS investigators have not conducted any covert CVSA interviews. “To date, we have conducted 11 CVSAs, all with permission of the subjects.”
DCS can use the analyzer as a tool to help verify whether abuse occurred, she said. The technology ostensibly analyzes stress in the voices of people being interviewed to determine when they are being deceptive.
