0. Sexual Assault Crimes Training for Law Enforcement
Module 2:
Interviewing Victims &
Effective Report Writing

1. What Do You Already Know?
ACTIVITY
What Do You Already Know?

2. What You Will Learn
Considerations for working with sexual assault victims and witnesses in preliminary and follow up interviews
Barriers to effective interviewing
Report writing techniques that support the successful prosecution of cases

3. ACTIVITY
What is the single most important factor in determining success of interviews with sexual assault victims?
How long should you wait before holding the first interview?

4. Who is Present for the Interview?
Victim and Officer
Victim Advocate, if victim wishes
Ask victim privately about other support people
Do not include witnesses in interview with victim (even if they are supportive)

5. Conducting the Interview
Ask the victim where they would like to do interview
Reassure the victim it’s not their fault
Sit down if possible and try to respect the physical space a victim might want
Use smooth movements and a calm voice; try to express patience, friendliness, and support

6. Ask Victim to Describe Experiences in Their Own Words
Ask the victim to describe the assault, listing as many details and feelings as possible
Ask what the environment was like - what did they see/ hear/ feel/ smell/ taste?
Document what “no” looked like and when – note all verbal AND non-verbal lack of consent
If a consensual encounter turned non-consensual, ask about how and when the perpetrator's behavior changed
Add that you can start by asking the victim to describe parts of the body, and then reflect their language back to them – make sure you are truly communicating
- Match the victim’s words describing various sex acts, but make sure you understand one another

7. Use Open-Ended Prompts
Try using the following questions to guide your conversation:
And then what happened?
Tell me what you were thinking at that point.
Tell me what you were feeling when the offender did that.
What can you remember saying and doing?

8. Allow Information to Flow for the Victim
Always remember to do the following when working with a victim of sexual assault:
LISTEN and don’t interrupt
Ask for only what they can recall at the moment
Be comfortable with pauses
Avoid leading questions
Let the victim know they can ask for a break
Let the victim know it’s okay to say “I don’t know”
Keep in mind that information gathered following experiencing a trauma may come out in spurts, be out of order, or be inaccurate
Keep in mind that you will be able to sort out an accurate timeline later

9. Common Responses to Trauma
Perceptual narrowing
Loss of cognitive and motor skills
Critical incident amnesia
Discomfort with discussing details
Inconsistencies in relaying information; however, it does not mean it’s a false report

10. Allow Victim to Take the Lead
Allow the victim to focus on one topic until the mental picture becomes clear and the retrieved information complete
Silence allows the victim to collect their thoughts
Use natural pauses to ask questions and clarify – “Do I have that right?”
Write down your own questions for the follow up interview

11. Additional Challenges for Victims
Possible illegal activity – drug or underage alcohol use
Status in oppressed or underserved groups
Immigration status issues
Cultural issues can affect victim reactions

12. Working with Under-Served Populations
Show sensitivity
Keep in mind they have likely had a negative experience with a person in a position of power in the past
Be mindful about victims’ fears of working with law enforcement

13. Victim May Give You Information
Remember that experiencing trauma can affect memory. Victims might share information that is:
Not consistent
Not true
Not complete
But that does NOT mean it’s a false report.

14. Purpose of Follow Up Interview
Gather additional information and clarify any questions – not to go over the same material again

15. Arranging Follow Up Interview
Make sure victim has had adequate rest before the second interview
Ask where victim would like to conduct interview - where victim feels safe
Assist with transportation if needed
Contact a Victim Advocate if victim wishes (if this hasn’t happened already)

16. Explain Process to the Victim
Explain that other people will be reading report
Remind victim it wasn’t their fault
Explain that we need to clarify any inconsistencies so that other people who read the report will understand what happened
Explain why you are asking about specific details about sex acts or other issues - for example, to meet legal requirements to show a sexual assault occurred

17. Additional Items to Address
Let victim know it’s better if they disclose any illegal activity sooner – helps their credibility
Address victim concerns about prosecution
Don’t ask victim whether they want to participate in prosecution yet – wait until end of investigation
Explain next steps in the process
Reassure that assault wasn’t their fault

18. One Minute Review – Fact Check
ACTIVITY
One Minute Review – Fact Check

19. ACTIVITY
What are the barriers to effective interviewing of sexual assault victims?

20. Report Writing Purpose is to support successful prosecution
Recreate reality of what happened from perspective of victim
Reminder: Lack of consent is communicated through more than just words – victims look away, close eyes, position or move their body as strategies to survive the assault

21. Document Victim’s Experience
Record what victim was thinking and feeling:
Before
During
After the assault
Preserve any slang or street terms victim uses – important not to “clean up” for the report (but be sure you and victim are communicating clearly)

22. Use Language of Non-Consensual Sex
Use words that describe parts of the body:
Forced penis into vagina (instead of “sexual intercourse”
Forced tongue into vagina or penis into mouth (instead of “oral sex”)
Hand on victim’s breast (instead of “fondle” or “caress”)

23. Include in the Report Grooming behavior by offender
Context of fear, force, threat, coercion and/or inability to consent by the victim
Victim’s experience of tonic immobility
Environment in which assault took place – isolation, sound proofing
Evidence of verbal and/or physical resistance from the victim

24. More Elements to Include
Factors increasing victim’s vulnerability (youth, inexperience, subordinate position, immigration status)
Evidence of genital and/or non-genital injury
Changes in routine habits after assault (such as dramatic weight gain/loss)
Relevant electronic evidence – text messages, Facebook posts, etc.

25. Documentation
Be sure to document ALL information from the victim, even if it doesn’t cast them in a positive light
Look for ways to document the victim’s behaviors and state of mind before and after assault – how did the victim change?
Find out who the victim told following the assault; often called the “outcry witness”

26. One Sentence Summary on Report Writing
ACTIVITY
One Sentence Summary on Report Writing

27. ACTIVITY Review of Learning
Compare and contrast the knowledge and assumptions you had about investigations and report writing with what you know now.
Use the worksheet to write down some comparisons.
- Use “Review of Learning” worksheet. If there is time, have learners share a couple of examples.

28. Checklists to Review on Your Own
What to SAY to a Victim During First Response
What to SAY to a Victim During the Follow Up Interview
What to GIVE a Victim
Forensic Exams - Victims and Suspects
Reminders for Report Writing for Sexual Assault Crimes

29. Special Thanks
Special thanks to Joanne Archambault, End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI). Foundational material in this module is based on concepts and information found in the Online Training Institute developed by EVAWI. For more information, please contact:
Joanne Archambault, Executive Director
End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI)
This module was produced by Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, Inc. (CONNSACS) in collaboration with the Connecticut Police Officers Standards and Training Council (POSTC) and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) through the support of subgrant No WF-AX-0019 awarded by the state administrating office for the STOP Formula Grant Program.  The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the state or the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.