Presented by End Violence Against Women (EVAW)

Even with increased training and awareness, many professionals still struggle with interviewing sexual assault victims in a way that balances investigative goals with a trauma-informed approach. Whether you’re a law enforcement officer, healthcare provider, advocate, or part of a multidisciplinary team, conducting an effective interview is critical, and often challenging. This practical, strategy-driven session moves beyond theory and offers tools you can apply immediately. Participants will explore why sexual assault victim interviews often go wrong and how trauma affects memory and communication. They will also learn how to build trust, avoid common missteps, and gather more accurate case information. With a focus on techniques that work in any setting (urban, rural, or suburban), this session is grounded in real-world experience and designed to improve outcomes for both victims and investigations.

Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be better able to: build rapport and establish trust from the very first interaction and ask effective, non-leading questions that elicit detailed and reliable information; recognize and respond to trauma symptoms without compromising the interview process; avoid common interviewing pitfalls that can retraumatize victims or weaken case integrity.

$49 or with subscription