Author Identifier (ORCID)
Giselle Woodley: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7521-5001
Abstract
This study explored adult victim-survivors’ experiences of reporting sexual violence to police in Australia, focusing on their suggestions for supporting future victim-survivors. By drawing on feminist standpoint theory, qualitative interviews with 26 victim-survivors indicated a range of experiences, yet strikingly similar concerns and suggestions for improvement. Using reflexive thematic analysis, key themes included the importance of interview room settings; the interviewer's interpersonal care; the presence of support people; and further investigative support when victims felt like investigators. The study offers both short-term and longer-term suggestions for supporting victim-survivors in sexual offence investigations, with a focus on minimising secondary victimisation.
Keywords
Investigative interview, police, rape, sexual assault, victim
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
Violence Against Women
Publisher
Sage
School
School of Arts and Humanities
Funders
Australian Research Council
Grant Number
ARC Number : DE240100109
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Comments
Hamilton, G., & Woodley, G. (2026). “Horrible, fantastic, traumatic”: Victim-survivors’ experiences of police interviews in sexual offence cases and suggestions moving forward. Violence Against Women. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012261422242