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Making the Case: A Comprehensive Approach to Sexual Assault Investigations
This program is designed to instruct patrol first responders and case carrying detectives in the techniques needed to properly
investigate sexual assaults. These are some of the most complex and difficult case to investigate. Many sexual assault cases
are not handled properly resulting in additional trauma to the victim, offenders not being held accountable and police
departments becoming the focus of bad publicity. The training will emphasize a team approach using a multi disciplinary
model to investigate these violent crimes. Basic and advanced techniques learned will give the attendee the necessary tools
to ensure a complete and thorough investigation.
Topics Covered
Interviewing
This is the key to any successful sexual assault investigation. One must understand the victim and victimization and still
conduct a comprehensive interview that includes key investigative questions. Students will be walked through the interview
process of victims and witnesses. What makes a sex crime suspect tick? Interviewing rape suspects offers a unique
challenge from beginning to end. Students will be taught information on how to prepare for these interviews, develop interview
strategies and styles and apply them during the suspect interview. All of this part of the class will be supported by video tape
examples of actual investigative interviews.
False Allegations
This is a real phenomenon that damages the credibility of genuine rape victims. Students will be given instruction on and
video examples of cases involving the false allegation. They will learn how to develop an interview strategy to professionally
handle and resolve these cases when they occur.
Confrontation Calls
The majority of sexual assault reports involve some one known to the victim resulting in a consent defense, these cases are
commonly referred to as the he said/she said. The confrontation call is one of the many tools to help the investigator
determine what really happened in these cases. Students will be exposed to and given examples of how and when to use this
technique.
Sexual Assault Crime Scenes
From crime scene to court room, proper crime scene identification, protection, documentation, collection and preservation
techniques are essential in the successful investigation and prosecution of these cases. The unique, personal and invasive
nature of sexual assault requires investigators to properly process and interpret the potentially many crime scenes involved in
these cases. The role DNA plays in these investigations will be thoroughly taught. Actual case examples and crime scene
photographs will be used to illustrate and support the instruction. The victim is a crime scene as well. Students will be given
critical information on the documentation and collection of evidence from the victim in the sexual assault exam itself. The class
will look at the truth and myths of what the exam can and cannot show as well as the forensic nurses who perform these
exams. Photographs and injury interpretation will be used to support the instruction.
Cold Case Sexual Assault
Many stranger and serial rape cases are never resolved. There are unique issues in these cold cases. Students will be
exposed to the whys and how’s of developing a cold case strategy using new DNA technology combined with "old fashioned
police work" to help resolve many of these old cases. Cold case development materials with case examples will be provided.
Course Structure and Fees
This is a 16 hour class presented over 2 days. The class fee is $295 per person.
The instructor for this class is Sgt James Markey from the Phoenix, AZ PD Sex Crimes Unit. His full biography is here.
This program is designed to instruct patrol first responders and case carrying detectives in the techniques needed to properly
investigate sexual assaults. These are some of the most complex and difficult case to investigate. Many sexual assault cases
are not handled properly resulting in additional trauma to the victim, offenders not being held accountable and police
departments becoming the focus of bad publicity. The training will emphasize a team approach using a multi disciplinary
model to investigate these violent crimes. Basic and advanced techniques learned will give the attendee the necessary tools
to ensure a complete and thorough investigation.
Topics Covered
Interviewing
This is the key to any successful sexual assault investigation. One must understand the victim and victimization and still
conduct a comprehensive interview that includes key investigative questions. Students will be walked through the interview
process of victims and witnesses. What makes a sex crime suspect tick? Interviewing rape suspects offers a unique
challenge from beginning to end. Students will be taught information on how to prepare for these interviews, develop interview
strategies and styles and apply them during the suspect interview. All of this part of the class will be supported by video tape
examples of actual investigative interviews.
False Allegations
This is a real phenomenon that damages the credibility of genuine rape victims. Students will be given instruction on and
video examples of cases involving the false allegation. They will learn how to develop an interview strategy to professionally
handle and resolve these cases when they occur.
Confrontation Calls
The majority of sexual assault reports involve some one known to the victim resulting in a consent defense, these cases are
commonly referred to as the he said/she said. The confrontation call is one of the many tools to help the investigator
determine what really happened in these cases. Students will be exposed to and given examples of how and when to use this
technique.
Sexual Assault Crime Scenes
From crime scene to court room, proper crime scene identification, protection, documentation, collection and preservation
techniques are essential in the successful investigation and prosecution of these cases. The unique, personal and invasive
nature of sexual assault requires investigators to properly process and interpret the potentially many crime scenes involved in
these cases. The role DNA plays in these investigations will be thoroughly taught. Actual case examples and crime scene
photographs will be used to illustrate and support the instruction. The victim is a crime scene as well. Students will be given
critical information on the documentation and collection of evidence from the victim in the sexual assault exam itself. The class
will look at the truth and myths of what the exam can and cannot show as well as the forensic nurses who perform these
exams. Photographs and injury interpretation will be used to support the instruction.
Cold Case Sexual Assault
Many stranger and serial rape cases are never resolved. There are unique issues in these cold cases. Students will be
exposed to the whys and how’s of developing a cold case strategy using new DNA technology combined with "old fashioned
police work" to help resolve many of these old cases. Cold case development materials with case examples will be provided.
Course Structure and Fees
This is a 16 hour class presented over 2 days. The class fee is $295 per person.
The instructor for this class is Sgt James Markey from the Phoenix, AZ PD Sex Crimes Unit. His full biography is here.