Police interviews with adult reporters of historical child sexual abuse: Exploring the link between verbal rapport and information obtained.

BACKGROUND: Police officers and academics agree that rapport is important when interviewing victims and witnesses, although previous research has found that officers do not always engage in rapport-building behaviours during interviews. Interviews with complainants reporting historical child sexual abuse may be key to police investigations, as physical or corroborating evidence is often not available. OBJECTIVE: This research explored the possible effect of verbal rapport-building behaviour on the elicitation of investigation-relevant details in historical child sexual abuse victim interviews. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A sample of interviews (N = 44) with adults reporting historical child sexual abuse in a northern Canadian territory with a large Indigenous population was examined. METHODS: Interviews were evaluated for interviewer verbal rapport-building behaviours, using a framework derived from Tickle-Degnen and Rosenthal's three domain model of rapport. Interviews were also coded for details given by the interviewee. RESULTS: Results showed that verbal rapport was significantly positively correlated with both total details (r = 0.621, p < .001) and abuse relevant details (r = 0.518, p < .001). Chronological Rapport Maps were piloted, to show the use of rapport behaviours over the course of interviews, and the possible effect over time of these behaviours on information yield. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that information yield is higher when more rapport behaviours are demonstrated and both parties work together harmoniously, even after a long delay. Further research is needed on the experience of police interviews for Indigenous complainants.

'Cold feet': The attrition of historic child sexual abuse cases reported to the police in a Northern Canadian Territory.

BACKGROUND: Most previous sexual assault attrition research has not differentiated between cases reported promptly and non-recent (or historic) reports, obscuring differences in attrition patterns. Historic child sexual abuse [HCSA] presents challenges for investigation and prosecution, including a lack of physical evidence, and complainant and witness memory issues. OBJECTIVE: To determine attrition patterns and analyze complainant reasons for withdrawal in HCSA cases in a region with a large Indigenous population. SAMPLE AND SETTING: This study examined 231 non-institutional HCSA complaints reported to the police in a Northern Canadian Territory. METHODS: Files were coded for a range of complainant, suspect, and offence variables. Reasons given by complainants were examined using thematic analysis. Logistic regression was performed, looking for factors connected with complainants' likelihood of continuation. RESULTS: Overall attrition was 68.8%, with 159 cases not resulting in convictions. The leading cause of attrition, at 39.6%, (n = 63) was initiated by complainants, many of whom withdrew during the early stages of the investigative process. Thematic analysis of reasons for complainant withdrawal yielded two main themes ('cold feet' and 'therapeutic'). Logistic regression results showed that three complainant-related variables were significant [p = 0.001] for complainant continuation: multi-complainant cases; previous disclosure by complainants; and complainant age (15-17 years old) at offence. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed less attrition overall than for recent sexual assault, and highlighted the need to support HCSA complainants from early in the process, especially those reporting abuse for the first time. It was also found that some complainants were satisfied without going to court.