As highlighted in the DOJ Guidance, ongoing and updated training, clear policies, and responsive accountability systems for law enforcement help improve outcomes and increase the safety of survivors and communities. Numerous national training and technical assistance providers have developed resources that seek to highlight promising practices and ongoing research, informed by the experiences of survivors and based on victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches.
This section includes the following sub-sections: a) Overview of Addressing and Preventing Gender Bias; b) Domestic Violence Specific Resources; c) Sexual Assault Specific Resources; d) Trauma-Informed Interviewing; and e) Additional General Resources
Uncovering Sexual Assault in Domestic Violence Calls: An Improved Law Enforcement Response to Assess for Sexual Violence, Build an Evidence Based Case and Reduce Gender Bias (Webinar), End Violence Against Women International, November 2018
Summary: This webinar explains how law enforcement can sensitively assess for sexual violence in domestic violence situations and build an evidence-based case through investigation and prosecution. Materials to help develop policies, protocols, and training, as well as reduce gender bias in policing are also included.
Effective Victim Interviewing: Helping Victims Retrieve and Disclose Memories of Sexual Assault, End Violence Against Women International.
Summary: The purpose of a law enforcement interview with a sexual assault victim is to help them: (1) remember details about their sexual assault, and (2) share those details with investigators. The investigator’s role is then to document this information and evaluate it within the context of the entire investigation. This module offers a brief overview of the scientific research on stress, trauma, and memory, as well as the unique dynamics of sexual assault. This information is then applied to the practical tasks involved in the initial response to a sexual assault report, follow-up interviews, and documentation. It also addresses the impact of interviews on investigators themselves, and offers ways for law enforcement agencies to support investigators and high-quality sexual assault investigations.