How should officers approach interviewing a DV suspect to ensure safety and due process?

• A. Interview separately, assess risk, apply rights advisement, avoid coercion, gather factual statements, preserve adversarial fairness.
• B. Only interview the survivor and not the suspect.
• C. Coerce statements to obtain confession.
• D. Interview together with survivor to speed up the process.

Answer: (A)

Interviewing a domestic violence suspect should prioritize safety and due process by handling the encounter in a careful, legally sound way. Start by interviewing the suspect separately from the survivor. This helps prevent intimidation or pressure, reduces the chance of collusion, and allows both parties to speak more freely, which supports a clearer, more reliable account of what happened.

Assessing risk during the process is essential. It guides immediate safety actions for the survivor and others who might be at risk, and informs decisions about protective measures or referrals to support services.

Rights advisement is crucial. The suspect should understand their rights and the fact that the interview is voluntary, which helps protect against claims that statements were coerced and strengthens the integrity of the information gathered.

Avoid coercion at all costs. Coercive tactics can produce unreliable statements and violate legal and ethical standards, undermining the investigation and prosecutorial goals.

Aim to gather factual statements. Focus on verifiable details—times, places, actions, and observable indicators—rather than subjective interpretations, so the information collected is usable and defensible in court.

Preserving adversarial fairness means ensuring the process is balanced and transparent, giving the system the opportunity to evaluate both sides’ inputs and maintain the integrity of the investigation.

Other approaches that interview only the survivor, rely on coercion, or interview the two together contravene safety and due process principles. The chosen approach aligns with protecting victims, safeguarding rights, and building a credible case.