Sexual Assault Interview & Interrogation

April 13 @ 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

This specialized one-day course is designed to enhance the interview skills of investigators handling complex sexual assault cases. Building on foundational knowledge from the Sexual Assault Investigations Course, students will focus on trauma-informed approaches to interviewing victims and effective strategies for interrogating suspects. The course emphasizes moving beyond basic statements to uncover deeper truths and overcome common barriers to disclosure. Participants will also explore offender behavior and learn how to detect deception and tailor interrogation techniques accordingly.

Course Objectives:

• Apply trauma-informed techniques when interviewing victim-survivors to facilitate accurate and complete disclosures.
• Identify and address common barriers to victim disclosure in sexual assault cases.
• Understand psychological and behavioral patterns of sexual offenders to guide suspect interviews.
• Develop strategies to detect and counteract deception during suspect interrogations.
• Transition from statement-taking to investigative interviewing that supports successful prosecution.

Equipment Needed:

• None

MLEAP Accreditation Standard:

• This course meets MLEAP Standard 7.07 – Interrogation