Police Interviews

General Information

  • If the patient consents to the notification of police regarding the sexual assault, police will need to conduct a preliminary interview of the sexual assault patient, in addition to transferring evidence from the health care facility to the State of Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory or Toxicology-Controlled Substance Laboratory.

Location

  • Whenever possible, a quiet private area should be provided for police to interview a sexual assault patient.
  • If no suitable area is available, suggest that the interview be conducted later, at another location, such as a sexual assault crisis services office or a place selected by the patient.
  • It is important for a sexual assault patient to feel that s/he is moving forward during the difficult process that follows a sexual assault and to regain a sense of control. Leaving the examining room after the examination is completed will help the patient as well as allow the examining room to become available for other use.

Timing

  • Police should be contacted at such time, and in such a manner, that will enable the officer to coordinate her/his arrival with the completion of the patient examination. 
  • If the officer arrives prior to the completion of the examination, s/he should be asked to wait in the waiting area until the examination is completed. There is no reason for the presence of a police officer (male or female) during the forensic examination. (Refer to ATTENDING PERSONNEL page 29).
  • See Child & Adolescent Victims section (Pages 52-54) when interviewing minors.