Trauma Informed Interviewing Background • Coping can be affected by experience immediately after crime • Police officers typically first interaction victim has with CJ system • Building rapport helps victims trust law enforcement • More willing to cooperate • Victims have three major needs • Feel safe • Express their emotions • Know what comes next Effects of Trauma • Trauma can “rewire” brain • Memory encoding is diminished and can be inaccurate • May block out some or all aspects of victimization • Lack of focus • Range of emotions or little to know emotional reaction • Inability to remember events sequentially • May cause victim to tell different versions of what happened Interviews vs. Interrogations • Interviews • • • • • Non-accusatory Neutral and objective Gather information relevant to investigation Gain trust of victim Open-ended questions • Interrogations • • • • Accusatory Learn truth and gain confession Structured Investigator dominated Forensic Interviews • Forensic interview is non-leading, victim sensitive, neutral, and developmentally appropriate • Helps LE determine whether a crime occurred and what happened • Goals • • • • Minimize potential trauma Maximize information obtained from victims Reduce contamination of victim’s memory of the alleged event(s) Maintain the integrity of the investigative process Information Needed by Interviewer • Description of suspect’s behavior • Description of suspect, if applicable • Description of victim’s behavior • Any prior relationship with suspect • Specific acts committed • Force used • Weapon present General Techniques • Avoid using police terminology • Reassure victim asking about behaviors doesn’t indicate doubt • Let victim know everything, even small details that seem irrelevant, are important • Ask open-ended questions • “Just the facts” – who, what, when, where, why, and how, not enough • Clarify any use of slang terms • Use terms said by victim Gender and Communication • Women • Tend to use more words • More descriptive • May respond better to “I” phrases – “I need you to help me understand…” • Men • May have difficulty expressing feelings • Tend to use fewer words • May express emotion through anger Setting the Right Stage • Conduct interview in quiet, private location • Begin by introducing yourself • Give name and title • Explain role as interviewer and purpose of interview • Be aware of body language, posture, tone of voice • • • • • • Make eye contact Active listening Stand/sit at victim’s level Use calm tone Neutral facial expressions Avoid touching victim Setting the Right Stage • Build rapport • • • • Take care of victim’s needs Ask if they have injuries Offer to contact family/friend Ask if victim needs anything to drink • Reassure information will be as confidential as possible • Won’t be shared outside investigative purposes • Acknowledge seriousness of what happened • Demonstrate empathy • DO NOT say “I know how you feel” Interviewing the Victim • Begin by asking victim what he/she is able to remember about experience • Allow victim to go at own pace • Do not interrupt • Prompt when necessary • Avoid leading questions Interviewing the Victim • After victim tells his/her story, ask open-ended follow-up questions • Ask about tactile memories • Sensory information increases ability to produce more information • What did victim see, hear, smell, feel • Explore small details • Ask about thought process at certain points • What were you thinking when…. • Avoid “why” questions • Risk re-victimizing Concluding the Interview • Ask if victim wants to report anything else • Reiterate victim’s role in investigation • Explain law enforcement procedures • Filing report, investigation, arrest, arraignment • Let victim know there may be need for additional interviews • Discuss medical/forensic exams, when applicable • Explain what information will be given to media Concluding the Interview • Encourage victim to contact interviewer as needed • Give written contact information • Before leaving, give victim pertinent information • Pamphlets on crisis centers, advocates, support groups • Victim compensation • Victim-witness program • Thank victim for taking time to talk with you
