Developing Trauma-Informed Techniques and Communications for Sexual Assault Investigations

by | May 10, 2024 | criminal justice

Interviews with Sexual Assault Victims: Trauma-Informed Techniques and Communications

No directly quoted material may be used in this project paper.

For this Project, you are to assume the role as Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) of a large police department. Recently, you were approached by another department’s Chief (located in Maryland) that has received criticism for its handling of several sexual assault investigations. Complaints from survivors, and advocates sitting in on law enforcement interviews, included insensitive treatment during interviews, victim-blaming questions, issues with language used in reporting documentation (i.e. had sexual intercourse v. nonconsensual sexual assault) lack of consistent follow-up and communication, and failure to provide information about supportive services during and beyond the investigation.

You have been approached because your department underwent significant changes and updated Standard Operating Procedures to ensure investigative approaches are consistent with trauma-informed practices. From this, community assessments of survivors’ experiences have shown increased trust in the reporting process, improved community-police relationships, and an overall increase in reports of sexual assault.

For this Project, you have been asked to provide a department training and procedures guide for the Chief of the partner department that includes recommendations on investigations techniques and treatment of sexual assault survivors.

Required Research & Analysis:

Provide a brief background on the crime of sexual assault, including prevalence rates, vulnerable populations, and barriers to reporting.
Offer analysis regarding how historical rape laws and current rape myths have influenced investigative approaches.
Suggest what topical education should be required for officers and detectives interacting with victims reporting sexual assault and explain why?
Address what training is required for detectives in order to insure interviews with victims are consistent with trauma-informed techniques?
What considerations should departments make regarding timelines of initial victim interviews and follow-up interviews given our current understanding of trauma exposure and memory recall?
How is trauma memory recall different from our traditional understanding of considerations when assessing reliable memory?
How has the FETI interview approach been shown to combat the consequences of trauma and why does this approach provide more reliable and valid data?
How should law enforcement expect survivors of sexual assault to act during interviews?
What considerations should be made when documenting reports of sexual assault?
What information, notice, and support should be provided to all victims under Maryland victims’ rights laws? Are there any special requirements for victims of sexual assault?
What do Maryland law guidelines suggest in terms of victim treatment by law enforcement?
How do positive victim experiences with law enforcement impact overall reporting rates, crime data, and ultimately the resources dedicated to policing and solvability of sexual assault cases?

Required Support: You must cite to course materials to support your analysis in your memo. Your memo should include a References Page with at least 5 resources from the course using the American Psychological Association (APA) formatting standards. Refer to the APA information found in Content -> Course Overview -> Course Resources.

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

Title: Developing Trauma-Informed Techniques and Communications for Sexual Assault Investigations

Introduction:

As the Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) of a large police department, it is imperative to address the criticisms surrounding the treatment of sexual assault survivors during investigations. By implementing trauma-informed practices, law enforcement agencies can enhance victim experiences, improve community-police relationships, and increase reporting rates of sexual assault cases. This project aims to provide a comprehensive training and procedures guide for the partner department’s Chief in Maryland to ensure a more sensitive and effective approach to handling sexual assault investigations.

Background on Sexual Assault:

Sexual assault is a prevalent crime affecting individuals of all ages, with certain populations such as women, children, LGBTQ+ individuals, and marginalized communities being more vulnerable. Barriers to reporting include fear of retaliation, lack of trust in the criminal justice system, and stigma associated with sexual violence.

Influence of Historical Rape Laws and Myths on Investigations:

Historical rape laws and pervasive rape myths have influenced investigative approaches by perpetuating victim-blaming attitudes, skepticism towards survivors’ accounts, and misconceptions about consent. This has led to insensitive treatment during interviews and inadequate support for survivors.

Required Training for Officers and Detectives:

Officers and detectives interacting with sexual assault victims should receive topical education on trauma-informed practices, understanding the neurobiology of trauma, cultural competency, victim sensitivity, and the impact of secondary victimization. This training is essential to ensure a compassionate and respectful approach towards survivors.

Trauma-Informed Interview Techniques:

Detectives should be trained in trauma-informed interview techniques such as the Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) approach. This method focuses on building rapport, creating a safe environment, minimizing retraumatization, and enhancing memory recall through sensory cues.

Considerations for Victim Interviews and Memory Recall:

Given the impact of trauma on memory recall, departments should consider conducting initial victim interviews in a timely but non-intrusive manner. Follow-up interviews should be conducted with sensitivity to allow for gradual disclosure and processing of traumatic experiences.

Documenting Reports of Sexual Assault:

When documenting reports of sexual assault, law enforcement should use victim-centered language, avoid victim-blaming terminology, and include detailed descriptions of the incident while respecting the survivor’s narrative. Documentation should be accurate, comprehensive, and culturally sensitive.

Victim Rights and Support:

Under Maryland victims’ rights laws, all victims of crime, including sexual assault survivors, are entitled to information about their rights, notice of court proceedings, access to support services, and protection from harassment or intimidation. Special considerations should be made for victims of sexual assault due to the nature of the crime.

Impact of Positive Victim Experiences:

Positive experiences with law enforcement can significantly impact reporting rates, crime data accuracy, and the allocation of resources towards investigating and solving sexual assault cases. Building trust with survivors leads to increased cooperation, improved case outcomes, and a more supportive environment for victims.

Conclusion:

By adopting trauma-informed techniques and communications in sexual assault investigations, law enforcement agencies can promote victim-centered approaches, enhance investigative outcomes, and foster trust within the community. Providing proper training, following best practices for victim interviews, documenting reports accurately, and upholding victims’ rights are crucial steps towards creating a more compassionate and effective response to sexual violence.

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