Which statement reflects the objective of the initial victim interview?

• A. The interview is an interrogation.
• B. The goal is to convict the suspect.
• C. The interview should not gain facts.
• D. The interview is not an interrogation.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that the initial victim interview is about gathering information in a safe, non-threatening way to understand what happened and determine next steps, not about confronting or accusing someone. Saying it is not an interrogation captures this approach: it focuses on listening to the survivor, documenting facts in their own words, and planning safety, medical care, reporting, and evidence collection. Interrogation, in contrast, is a later, adversarial process aimed at proving guilt, often with the suspect’s rights and counsel involved. The objective here is to obtain accurate facts and assess needs, not to convict.