Advancements in trauma-informed training and interviewing for law enforcement and prosecutors

Abstract

Since the rape reform movements of the 1970s, advocates, practitioners, and researchers have called for more training aimed at educating police and prosecutors about providing trauma-informed responses to sexual assault survivors. This type of training teaches practitioners about rape myth acceptance, survivor reactions to sexual assault, and investigative techniques that can improve survivor engagement with the criminal justice system and reduce harm caused by negative interactions with police and prosecutors. Since the call for more training has begun, few jurisdictions have implemented trauma-informed training programs, and even fewer have evaluated such training. However, the onset of the national Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) has encouraged multiple jurisdictions across the country to develop and implement trauma-informed training programs. This chapter highlights the existing research on trauma-informed sexual assault training for police. The chapter begins with a review of findings from previous trauma-informed training programs implemented in jurisdictions that addressed the problem of untested sexual assault kits (SAKs). Next, the chapter moves into a discussion of findings from an evaluation of Kentucky's state-mandated training for police officers regarding the relationship between training, perceptions of victims, and knowledge of trauma-informed practices. The chapter ends with a discussion of the state of trauma-informed sexual assault training and future directions for research and practice.