Course Description: This intensive, advanced-level course equips law enforcement professionals and sex crimes investigators with the critical skills required to effectively investigate complex cases of adult sexual assault and child sexual exploitation. The curriculum will teach advanced sex crimes investigative techniques, as well as integrate forensic analysis with evidence-based, trauma-informed cognitive interviewing strategies. We will share how to effectively utilize the PEACE model, an ethical non-accusatorial framework for investigative interviewing of suspects in relation to sexual assaults. Participants will learn the pillars of modern sex crimes investigations, meticulously identifying and documenting physical, behavioral, and digital evidence. We will provide each student with a checklist for on-scene digital evidence preservation. Investigators will also learn how to deploy highly specialized cognitive interviewing frameworks for both victims and suspects. By bridging the gap between clinical forensic findings and advanced interview protocols, investigators will learn to build legally resilient cases that stand up to rigorous judicial scrutiny.

 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Identify, interpret, and document physical, behavioral, and digital forensic

indicators used to evaluate and substantiate potential cases of child sexual

exploitation or abuse.

• Analyze injury patterns on adult and juvenile sexual assault victims to correlate

physical findings with the reported mechanism of assault and the use of force or

incapacitation.

• Analyze and document suspect injuries to correlate physical findings with victim

statements and defensive struggle patterns.

• Deploy strategic investigative cognitive interviewing frameworks to effectively

counter denial, manage resistance, and generate actionable leads during stranger

sexual assault suspect interviews.

• Utilize advanced suspect interview tactics and techniques specifically designed

for acquaintance-based or alcohol-facilitated sexual assault cases.

• Execute effective rapport building cognitive interviewing techniques that create

trust between the investigator and the victim of a sexual assault.

• Illustrate how to improve the quality of victim’s statements during trauma-

informed interviews.

• Assess and implement specialized investigative interviewing protocols that yield

the highest rate of actionable information when questioning suspects of child

sexual exploitation.

• Identify and avoid the top mistakes made in ICAC investigations.