Forensic Interviewing of Adult Sexual Assault Complainants
Description
This edited volume assembles leading scholars and practitioners to offer a comprehensive, up-to-date examination of the science and practice of investigative interviewing in adult sexual assault cases. While the forensic interviewing of children has received considerable scholarly and practical attention, the interviewing of adults-often equally complex and emotionally charged-has been comparatively neglected. These interviews require exceptional sensitivity and skill, as they sit at the intersection of law, psychology, and ethics. This volume functions as both a practical guide for forensic interviewers and a rigorous resource for researchers, addressing the multidimensional challenges that define this critical area of practice. The 33 chapters explore a wide range of issues, including the ethics of forensic interviewing, perspectives from prosecution and defense attorneys, the psychology of memory and suggestibility, and the complexities of sexual consent. Additional chapters address interviewing special populations, the psychometrics of interview protocols, understanding offenders, the cognitive interview method, barriers to reporting sexual assault, lie detection, false allegations, and the role of forensic medical examinations. Special attention is devoted to LGBTQ populations and Title IX investigations, recognizing the evolving legal and cultural contexts in which interviews occur. The volume's international scope-drawing on both European and North American perspectives-underscores the global relevance of improving forensic interviewing standards. Practical guidance is provided on every stage of the process, including interview preparation, rapport building, appropriate use of protocols, and tailoring the interview to ensure it is patient-centered and trauma-informed. The contributors emphasize that effective interviewing not only yields more reliable evidence but also minimizes harm to survivors and respects the rights of all parties involved. Ultimately, this volume stands as a definitive resource for legal and mental health professionals, uniting empirical research and field-tested expertise to enhance the fairness, accuracy, and humanity of forensic practice-and, in doing so, to advance the cause of justice for all.
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Persons
William O'Donohu e is a licensed clinical psychologist and professor of clinical psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. For the past 29 years, he has directed a free psychological treatment center for sexual assault victims. His publications include over 90 books, 300 peer-reviewed papers, and book chapters. He has served on the American Psychiatric Association's advisory committee to revise the diagnosis of pedophilia for the DSM5. According to Google Scholar, his citation number is over 16,000.
Ray Bull
is professor of Criminal Investigation at the University of Derby in the UK. He has published several books and over 250 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. He is a "Distinguished Member" of the American Psychology-Law Society. He has served as president of the European Association of Psychology and Law. In 2012 he was awarded the first Honorary Life-time Membership of the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group, and is an Honorary Fellow of the British Psychological Society.
Content
Chapter 1 Forensic Interview with Adults Alleging Sexual Assault: Research and Practice Priorities.- Chapter 2 An International Perspective on Interviewing Adult Complainants of Sexual Assault.- Chapter 3 Ethical Considerations in Adult Forensic Interviews.- Chapter 4 The Adult Forensic Interview from the Prosecutor's Perspective.- Chapter 5 A Defense Attorney's Perspective on Forensic Interviews Regarding Sexual Assault.- Chapter 6 Complexities of Sexual Consent and Its Communication: Implications for Forensic Interviewing.- Chapter 7 Fundamentals of Memory: Applications to Memory for Sexual Assaul.- Chapter 8 A Psychometric Review of Existing Forensic Interview Protocols.- Chapter 9 Understanding rapists and sexual deviance.- Chapter 10 General Interviewing Principles.- Chapter 11 Planning the Forensic Interview. Planning the Forensic Interview.- Chapter 12 Setting the Scene in Adult Sexual Assault Forensic Interviews: Building Relationships and Demystifying the Process.- Chapter 13 Managing complainant interviews in adult rape investigation - A pragmatic approach to interview strategy development.- Chapter 14 The role of interviewer training regarding adult sexual assault complainants.- Chapter 15 Adapting the Cognitive Interview for Victims of Sexual Abuse.- Chapter 16 Forensic Interviews with Adult Sexual Assault Complainants.- Chapter 17 Emotional Support During the Forensic Interview.- Chapter 18 Science-Based Approaches for Conducting Investigative Interviews in the Title IX Context.- Chapter 19 Closing the Interview.- Chapter 20 What is a forensically equitable interview?.- Chapter 21 Interviews with vulnerable complainants such as those with disabilities.- Chapter 22 Interpreted Interviews with Complainants of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment.- Chapter 23 Multiple Session Interviews.- Chapter 24 Culture and language in interviews with adults in sexual assault cases.- Chapter 25 The Impact of Trauma on Memory and Forensic Interviewing Practices: A Neuroscience Perspective.- Chapter 26 Barriers to Disclosing Sexual Assault.- Chapter 27 Barriers to help seeking and attainment for LGBTQ sexual assault survivors.- Chapter 28 The Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Exam: Is Collecting the Patient's History a Forensic Interview?.- Chapter 29 Prevalence and Pathways to False Allegations of Sexual Assault and Rates.- Chapter 30 Understanding Lie Detection in Adult Sexual Assault Cases.- Chapter 31 Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of the Sexual Assault Survivor.- Chapter 32 The Many Faces of Alcohol Intoxication: Effects on Sexual Behavior, Cognition, and Memory.- Chapter 33 Analyzing the Victim's Interview in Sexual Crime Cases and Integrating It with the Evidence.