Police Questioning About Crime Committed by Family Member

This file is provided for reference purposes simply. Information technology was electric current when produced, but is no longer maintained and may now be outdated. Please select www.ovc.gov to access current information.

I. Basic Guidelines on Approaching Victims of Crime

Background

The way people cope as victims of crime depends largely on their experiences immediately following the crime. As a police enforcement officer, you are usually the first official to approach victims. For this reason, you are in a unique position to assist victims cope with the immediate trauma of the offense and to help restore their sense of security and control over their lives.

Circumstances of the criminal offence and the criminal offense scene make up one's mind when and how the showtime responding officers are able to address victims and their needs. This publication recognizes that each crime and crime scene is different and requires officers to prioritize their performance of tasks in each situation. Generally, officers must attend to many tasks, including assessing medical needs, determining facts and circumstances, advising other personnel, and gathering and distributing suspect data. It is helpful to go along in listen that apprehension of the suspect is the chief duty of constabulary enforcement and that accomplishing this task helps not only the suspects current victims merely potential victims as well. Sometimes the first responders must delay their attendance to the victims if the state of affairs requires. For instance, if the crime is ongoing, or if the collection of evidence or investigation of the criminal offense is extremely time-sensitive, kickoff responders may not be able to direct their immediate attention to the victims. However, equally soon every bit the well-nigh urgent and pressing tasks take been addressed, officers volition focus their attention on the victims and their needs. At this betoken, how the officers respond to the victims, explain the competing law enforcement duties, and work with the victims is very important.

Past approaching victims appropriately, officers will gain their trust and cooperation. Victims may then be more than willing to provide detailed information about the crime to officers and later to investigators and prosecutors, which, in plow, volition lead to the conviction of more criminals. Remember that you are in that location for the victim, the victim is non there for you.

You can aid victims past understanding the three major needs they have after a crime has been committed: the need to feel safety; the need to express their emotions; and the need to know "what comes next" after their victimization. The information in this handbook is designed to evidence you how to come across these needs.

Tips for Responding to Victims' 3 Major Needs

Victims' Need To Experience Rubber

People oftentimes feel helpless, vulnerable, and frightened past the trauma of their victimization. Equally the first response officer, you lot can respond to victims' need to feel safe by following these guidelines:

• Introduce yourself to victims past name and championship. Briefly explain your function and purpose.

• Reassure victims of their rubber and your concern by paying shut attention to your ain words, posture, mannerisms, and tone of voice. Say to victims, "You lot're safe now" or "I'm here now." Use body language to testify business organisation, such as nodding your head, using natural center contact, placing yourself at the victim's level rather than continuing over seated victims, keeping an open stance rather than crossing your arms, and speaking in a calm, sympathetic vocalisation.

• Ask victims to tell you in just a sentence or two what happened. Ask if they have any physical injuries. Take care of their medical needs first.

• Offer to contact a family unit fellow member, friend, or crisis counselor for victims.

• Ensure privacy during your interview. Conduct it in a place where victims experience secure.

• Ask elementary questions that allow victims to brand decisions, affirm themselves, and regain control over their lives. Examples: "Would you like anything to drinkable?"; "May I come up inside and talk with you lot?"; and "How would yous like me to address you, Ms. Jones?"

• Assure victims of the confidentiality of their comments whenever possible.

• Ask victims about any special concerns or needs they may have.

• Provide a "condom cyberspace" for victims before leaving them. Make telephone calls and pull together personal or professional person support for the victims. Give victims a pamphlet listing resources bachelor for help or information. This pamphlet should include contact information for local crisis intervention centers and support groups; the prosecutor'southward office and the victim-witness help part; the Country victim bounty/assistance office; and other nationwide services, including toll-gratis hotlines.

• Give victim's—in writing—your proper name and information on how to accomplish you. Encourage them to contact y'all if they accept any questions or if you can be of farther aid.

Victims' Need To Express Their Emotions

    Victims demand to air their emotions and tell their story afterwards the trauma of the crime. They demand to have their feelings accepted and accept their story heard by a nonjudgmental listener. In add-on to fear, they may have feelings of self-blame, anger, shame, sadness, or deprival. Their most common response is: "I don't believe this happened to me." Emotional distress may surface in seemingly peculiar means, such equally laughter. Sometimes victims feel rage at the sudden, unpredictable, and uncontrollable threat to their safety or lives. This rage can fifty-fifty be directed at the people who are trying to assist them, perhaps even at law enforcement officers for not arriving at the scene of the criminal offence sooner. You can respond to victims' demand to express their emotions by following these guidelines:

• Avoid cutting off victims' expression of their emotions.

• Notice victims' torso language, such as their posture, facial expression, tone of voice, gestures, centre contact, and general advent. This can aid yous understand and respond to what they are feeling equally well every bit what they are proverb.

• Assure victims that their emotional reactions to the crime are not uncommon. Sympathize with the victims by saying things such as: "You've been through something very frightening. I'm sorry"; "What you' re feeling is completely normal"; and "This was a terrible crime. I'm pitiful information technology happened to you."

• Counter whatever self-arraign by victims by proverb things such as, "You didn't do anything wrong. This was non your fault."

• Speak with victims every bit individuals. Practise not just "accept a report." Sit downwardly, accept off your hat, and place your notepad aside momentarily. Ask victims how they are feeling at present and heed.

• Say to victims, "I want to hear the whole story, everything y'all can remember, fifty-fifty if you lot don't think it'southward of import."

• Ask open-ended questions. Avoid questions that can be answered by "yes" or "no." Inquire questions such every bit "Can you tell me what happened?" or "Is there annihilation else you tin can tell me?"

• Show that you are actively listening to victims through your facial expressions, trunk language, and comments such as "Accept your time; I'm listening" and "We tin take a break if you like. I'm in no hurry."

• Avert interrupting victims while they are telling their story.

• Repeat or rephrase what you lot recollect you heard the victims say. For case, "Let's run into if I understood you correctly. Did you say. . .?"; "So, equally I understand information technology, . . ."; or "Are y'all maxim. . . ?"

Victims' Demand To Know "What Comes Side by side" After Their Victimization

Victims often have concerns about their role in the investigation of the crime and in the legal proceedings. They may also exist concerned about issues such equally media attention or payment for health care or property impairment. You tin help relieve some of their anxiety by telling victims what to expect in the aftermath of the crime. This will also help set up them for upcoming stressful events and changes in their lives. Y'all tin respond to victims' demand to know well-nigh what comes adjacent afterward their victimization by following these guidelines:

• Briefly explain law enforcement procedures for tasks such as the filing of your report, the investigation of the criminal offence, and the arrest and arraignment of a doubtable.

• Tell victims about subsequent constabulary enforcement interviews or other kinds of interviews they can expect.

• Discuss the general nature of medical forensic examinations the victim will be asked to undergo and the importance of these examinations for law enforcement.

• Explain what specific information from the crime report will exist bachelor to news organizations. Talk over the likelihood of the media releasing any of this information.

• Counsel victims that lapses of concentration, memory losses, depression, and physical ailments are normal reactions for law-breaking victims. Encourage them to reestablish their normal routines as quickly as possible to help speed their recovery.

• Give victims a pamphlet listing resource bachelor for help and information. This pamphlet should include contact information for local crisis intervention centers and back up groups; the prosecutor's role and the victim-witness help part; the State victim compensation/assistance function; and other nationwide services, including price-free hotlines.

• Inquire victims whether they have whatever questions. Encourage victims to contact yous if you tin can be of farther assistance.

everetthersentooped.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.ncjrs.gov/ovc_archives/reports/firstrep/bgavoc.html

Share this post