Police Investigators' Perceptions of the Challenges Associated With Interviewing Adult Sexual Assault Complainants.

Westera, Nina; Gentle, Mia; Powell, Martine; Zajac, Rachel

Although police organizations have devoted considerable effort to training investigators in evidence-based witness interviewing techniques, there is some suggestion that current practices do not meet the multifaceted requirements of sexual assault cases. Here, we assessed the specific challenges inherent in conducting interviews with adult sexual assault complainants, by conducting in-depth interviews with 21 experienced investigators from both Australia and New Zealand. The challenges that investigators identified fell into three broad themes: meeting the evidential needs of sexual assault investigations, establishing credibility, and managing complainant vulnerabilities. We discuss how the investigative interview process might be modified in line with these challenges.

NEW Zealand; AUSTRALIA; SEXUAL assault evidentiary examinations; WORK experience (Employment); WELL-being; CULTURE; SOCIAL support; ATTITUDE (Psychology); PSYCHOLOGICAL vulnerability; INTERVIEWING; COGNITION; CRIME victims; SEX crimes; COMMUNICATION; LEGAL evidence; INTERPERSONAL relations; NEEDS assessment; POLICE

Violence Against Women, 2023, Vol 29, Issue 2, p276

1077-8012

Academic Journal

10.1177/10778012221120447