Interviewing victims of a heinous crime is often one of the most gut-wrenching aspects of a police officer’s career. To help officers better understand the physical and mental trauma victims have gone through, the Department of Criminal Justice and the University of Louisville’s Criminal Justice program have teamed up on a Victim-Centered Interviewing Training for Sexual Assault course.

This course is designed to enhance the skills of officers to interview sexual assault victims in a trauma-informed manner. The investigation of sexual assault cases can be hindered by the use of interrogation methods that re-victimize sexual assault reporters. Students will be made aware of the best practices in sexual assault-victim interviewing and will have the opportunity to practice interviewing victims in a trauma-informed way.

“This was pulled out of the needs assessment from the sexual assault program,” DOCJT Instructor Jim Root said. “(Officers) are learning cognitive interview techniques using non-leading, non-suggestive interview questions to elicit the most detailed, comprehensive information from the victim. It’s all victim-centered and trauma-informed.”

The course is being offered twice in 2019. The first course took place the week of Nov. 11-15 at DOCJT’s Richmond campus, and the second course will be offered Dec. 9-13 at the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville. As of Nov. 14, there were seven open slots for the December course.

The course uses paid actors from the University of Louisville’s theater department, Root said.

UofL secured a grant for the program to pay for the actors and other associated costs, he added.

“We met with (the actors) beforehand and developed scripts and gave examples of cognitive interview styles,” Root continued.

The course featured simulated interviews with actors trained in sexual-assault reporting methods.

The first course saw 21 law enforcement officers from various agencies participate. Ashland Police Department Detective Angel Holmes said the course would be beneficial to those investigating these types of crimes.

“Much of the training focuses on suspect interview and suspect apprehension,” Holmes said. “This class focuses on understanding the victim’s trauma and how their brain and body handle the trauma. It will strengthen our cases and help us explain it in the courtroom.”

Root said the course is designed to:

Identify elements of trauma
Build a rapport and trust with victims
Conduct interviews in a manner that will minimize re-victimization
Use evidence-based practices (cognitive interviewing techniques) aimed at triggering the memory

The course will be offered six times in 2020. Visit https://kydocjt-portal.acadisonline.com/acadisviewer/login.aspx for more information about the course.

Course offers insight into victims of sexual assault