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**Understanding, Investigating,and Responding toSexual Assault**
  April 2018 | Volume 11 | Issue 4

For the past 20 years, the International Association of  Chiefs of Police (IACP) has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice’s   Office on Violence Against Women to support law enforcement agencies around the  country   with  improving   their response to crimes of violence against women, including sexual assault,  domestic violence, stalking, and strangulation. Historically, many law  enforcement agencies have lacked the training opportunities, tools, resources,  and support needed to effectively address these crimes. In addition, these  crimes may receive less attention and resources than other crimes due to  community misunderstandings and misperceptions about trauma and the realities  of crime victims and perpetrators. In providing training to first responders,  investigators, and leadership, the importance of strong leadership at every  level,  coupled with accountability mechanisms, has been  clear. Recent research findings and promising practices show  that the most effective response to these crimes looks beyond a single incident  that occurred in order to identify a pattern as well  as the co-occurrence of other crimes.

In addition to providing training events and technical  assistance, the IACP develops and distributes  resources to aid law enforcement agencies in responding to these complex  crimes. For Sexual Assault Awareness Month, agencies are encouraged to review  the resources below and integrate them into department policy and procedures:
- **Sexual Assault  Incident Reports: Investigative Strategies**              This document  aims to strengthen sexual assault investigations and set national uniform  standards for sexual assault case coding and documentation. It includes  guidelines for case documentation, effective techniques for victim and  perpetrator interviews, a supplemental report form, a pocket “tip” card for  officers, and separate training keys for different parts of sexual assault  investigations. The treatment a sexual assault victim receives from first  responders and investigators will likely impact their trust in the criminal  justice system and their decision to move forward with their case or not.               - **Sexual Assault  Supplemental Report Form** 
- **Sexual Assault  Response Policy and Training Content Guidelines**            This document  includes procedure and policy  recommendations addressing various levels of law enforcement response, as well  as collaborating with community partners. These guidelines present training  curriculum content that should accompany the implementation of a new or updated  sexual assault policy to ensure officers understand the complex nature of these  crimes. A trauma-informed, victim-centered response not only facilitates a  trusting relationship between law enforcement, victims, and the community, but  can help to hold offenders accountable by increasing victim engagement in the  criminal justice process.
- **Video: Bringing  Sexual Assault Offenders to Justice**            Available  online, this three-segment training video, along with the accompanying  discussion guide, supports officers to generate stronger cases by reframing  sexual assault crimes, providing tools to conduct perpetrator-focused  investigations, and building an understanding of victim behavior. The video  helps officers identify victim trauma and provides information about victim  behavior, such as delayed reporting, alcohol or substance abuse, and encounters  that start out consensually, that can be used to support a sexual assault  report. This video also provides useful information detailing how perpetrators  often have a history of unreported sexual violence and may select victims with  vulnerabilities to exploit. 
- **Responding to  Sexual Violence in LGBTQ+ Communities: Law Enforcement Strategies and  Considerations**            Drawing from  promising practices of law enforcement agencies nationwide, this document  supports building and sustaining trust and relationships with LGBTQ+  communities. The document highlights strategies for implementing effective  department-wide response through agency mission, policy, training, and  personnel to proactively address and prevent sexual violence in LGBTQ+  communities. Included is an agency assessment questionnaire to assist leaders  to examine their operations and agency efforts. This document was developed  with support from Raliance, a collaborative initiative to end sexual violence  in one generation, made possible by the National Football League.
- **Addressing  Sexual Offenses and Misconduct by Law Enforcement** This document  includes policy guidelines, accountability standards, and investigative guidelines  for addressing criminal offenses, as well as non-criminal sexual  conduct that is inappropriate, unprofessional, and damaging to public  confidence in an agency. Members of law enforcement are entrusted with the  authority to enforce laws and protect civil rights;    sexual offenses and misconduct implicating law enforcement  represent a grave abuse of this authority. It is imperative that executives  prepare to proactively address and prevent incidents through agency mission,  policy, and training. 
- **Supervisor  Report Review Checklists** These five  Report Review Checklists  support law  enforcement first-line supervisors as they review reports for sexual assault, stalking, strangulation, domestic  violence,  and protection  order violations . Reports often lack significant details and elements necessary  to document these complex crimes. The checklists serve  to assist supervisors in ensuring that reports capture significant and  comprehensive details and the totality of crimes that occurred. Questions on  the checklists can also be used as a training tool to highlight specific  details that should be captured in a thorough report, and as a resource for  first-responders as they complete reports, interview victims, and reflect on  whether pertinent information has been effectively documented.  
- **The Crime of  Domestic Violence Training Video**            Available  online, this four-part training video presents law enforcement agencies and partners with  information to strengthen the response to victims of domestic  violence.  It highlights the realities and complexities of domestic violence  and provides strategies for effective investigations. Perpetrators most often  sexually assault people they know; this is the case  for both sexual assault and domestic violence. Officers provide as  much support to victims as possible, but when equipped with a better  understanding of the nuances and dynamics of this crime, they can more  effectively address victims’ needs and hold offenders accountable. 
- **Intimate  Partner Violence Response Policy and Training Guidelines**            When sexual  assault or domestic violence occurs between people currently or formerly in a romantic  relationship, it is called intimate partner violence. To further support law  enforcement in dealing with the complex situation of crimes between intimate  partners, this document provides procedure and policy recommendations that  address various levels of law enforcement response, as well as training  curriculum content that should accompany the implementation of policies and  procedures around intimate partner violence.
- **Deliberations  from the IACP National Forum on Body-Worn Cameras and Violence Against Women** In February  2016, IACP convened the National Forum on Body-Worn Cameras and Violence  Against Women. This document captures the deliberations of this multidisciplinary  forum on creating effective victim-centered body-worn camera policies and  programs for law enforcement. Law enforcement leaders are encouraged to use  this and  **a brochure of  key issues**  to engage in community discussions on the use of  body-worn cameras and facilitate dialogue regarding the crimes of sexual  assault, domestic violence, and stalking. They are tools to assist with  developing, maintaining, and sustaining trust with community members.        

The IACP is the world’s largest and most influential  professional association for police leaders. With more than 30,000 members in  150 countries, the IACP is a recognized leader in global policing.  The IACP is known for its commitment to shaping the future of the police  profession. Through timely research, programming, and unparalleled training  opportunities, the IACP is preparing current and emerging police leaders -- and  the agencies and communities they serve -- to succeed in addressing the most  pressing issues, threats, and challenges of the day. IACP membership is open to  law enforcement professionals of all ranks, as well as non-sworn leaders across  the criminal justice system. Learn more at www.theIACP.org. 

For more information, contact Julia Holtemeyer at holtemeyer@theiacp.org or 1-800-843-4227 ext.272.

Julia Holtemeyer and Michael Rizzo,  International Association of Chiefs of Police

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