Key takeaways
- Learn how standardized sexual assault investigation frameworks can mirror DWI enforcement progress.
- See how trauma-informed training and survivor voices improve case quality and reporting rates.
- Discover a 10-step investigative model that promotes consistency, transparency and professionalism.
- Understand how leadership and cultural change can elevate sexual assault response nationwide.
The response to driving while intoxicated (DWI) in the United States is remarkably uniform. No matter where you are stopped — Atlanta, Georgia; Albany, New York; or anywhere in between — the steps officers take, the language they use and the enforcement expectations are consistent.
The same cannot be said for sexual assault investigations, which vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Some agencies embrace advocates, soft interview rooms and trauma-informed training, while others lag far behind. This inconsistency not only frustrates survivors but also contributes to low reporting rates — only about 23% of rapes or sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement. [1,2] Survivors often hesitate because they simply don’t know what to expect.
This is a fixable failure. Just as DWI enforcement was standardized, sexual assault investigations can — and must — be built on a clear, repeatable foundation.
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What MADD and NHTSA taught us
Before my genesis in law enforcement, it was not unusual for certain people to be given a pass on drunk driving. Enforcement was inconsistent, and the crime was not taken seriously. Then cultural reform arrived, driven by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
MADD’s approach included:
- Survivor voices in training. Families devastated by impaired driving spoke to recruits, leaving lasting impressions.
- Public recognition. Officers who excelled in DWI enforcement were honored, shifting attitudes and pride.
- Standardized tools. NHTSA created the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) in the late 1970s, scientifically validated and taught the same way nationwide. [3,4]
When I trained at the Atlanta Police Academy in 1998 and later at the New York State Police Academy in 2002, the DWI process looked nearly identical. That is the power of cultural change plus standardized tools.
Where sexual assault investigations fall short
In contrast, my early work as a New York State Police investigator left me embarrassed. I had not been trained in the neurobiology of trauma, nor had I heard survivor voices in the academy. There were no standardized tools — no equivalent to SFSTs — for investigating sexual assault.
The lack of structure meant that cases rose or fell on officer discretion. Too often, victim behavior was misinterpreted as deception rather than as a normal response to trauma. [5] And with inconsistent practices from one jurisdiction to the next, survivors never knew what kind of reception awaited them.
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My proving ground: The campus unit
My outlook shifted when I was assigned to the New York State Police Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit, covering 26 colleges. Reporting rates were exceptionally low, and most cases were “historical,” with no biological evidence or eyewitnesses.
To move cases forward, I had to earn trust in the interview room. That meant:
- Educating myself on trauma science.
- Conducting interviews in soft spaces, with advocates present.
- Treating confusing victim behaviors — like dissociation or fragmented memory — not as lies but as possible evidence of trauma.
- Building cases through corroboration, digital evidence and offender-focused research.
This experience led me to develop a practical, repeatable roadmap: a 10-step framework that functions as an “SFST for sexual assault.”
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A 10-step framework for sexual assault investigations
The following steps are not rigid or sequential; they can be adapted to the facts of each case. But taken together, they provide consistency, transparency and professionalism.
- Collaborate with others. Sexual assault investigations require a multidisciplinary team. Use the knowledge of SANEs, advocates and crime analysts.
- Adopt a trauma-informed approach. Learn how trauma impacts disclosure. A neutral but compassionate stance helps survivors share more accurate information. [5,6]
- Focus on the offender. Go beyond criminal history. Analyze patterns, digital footprints and behaviors. Many offenders reoffend, leaving trails of evidence.
- Form a plan. Just as SFSTs corroborate impairment, seek corroborating evidence — texts, surveillance, digital records, purchase receipts, even pharmacy logs.
- Document the scene. Every location is unique. Photos, sketches or bodycam footage provide crucial context.
- Use control calls and texts when legal. When practiced and coordinated with prosecutors, these can yield powerful admissions.
- Conduct suspect interviews. Delays allow suspects to retain attorneys or tailor their story. Interview promptly, using lawful techniques like non-custodial interviews or one-party consent recordings.
- Capture disclosure witnesses. Survivors often tell someone before police. Secure those accounts and include 911 calls or dispatch notes in the file.
- Write professional reports. Grammar, organization and completeness matter. Reports should reflect high effort and neutrality.
- Monitor post-arrest communications. Jail calls often contain incriminating statements that can aid prosecution.
Agencies don’t need to adopt all ten at once to improve. Even starting with a few — like standardized trauma-informed interviews, crime scene documentation and offender-focused case building — can raise the quality of investigations significantly.
Driving culture change in sexual assault investigations
The transformation of DWI enforcement shows that cultural change is possible. Survivors’ voices, public recognition of excellence, standardized tools and leadership buy-in shifted drunk driving from an overlooked offense to a universally recognized crime.
We need the same for sexual assault. Police leaders must set the expectation, mid-level supervisors must enforce it and frontline officers must apply it consistently. Survivors should know that no matter where they disclose, the investigative process will be transparent, professional and fact-driven.
A fixable failure
Sexual assault reporting numbers remain low, in part because survivors don’t know what to expect. But the tools for fixing this exist. A clear, standardized investigative framework — our version of SFSTs — can improve trust, accountability and justice.
DWI investigations were standardized, and culture changed nationwide. Sexual assault deserves no less.
Training discussion points
- How can agencies build consistency in sexual assault response without losing flexibility?
- What role should survivor advocates play during investigations?
- How can leadership drive cultural reform similar to the DWI model?
- What are the most immediate training priorities for improving sexual assault investigations?
References
1. Morgan RE, Truman JL. (2022). Criminal Victimization, 2020 – Supplemental Statistical Tables. Bureau of Justice Statistics.
2. RAINN. (2023). Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics.
3. Burns M, Moskowitz H. (1977). Psychophysical Tests for DWI Arrest. U.S. Department of Transportation, NHTSA.
4. NHTSA. DWI Testing and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST).
5. Hopper J. (2016). Neurobiology of Trauma and Memory.
6. Campbell R, Wasco SM, Ahrens CE, Sefl T, Barnes HE. (2005). Preventing the “second rape”: Rape survivors’ experiences with community service providers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 20(6), 760–788.
Tactical takeaway
Pick three steps from the 10-step framework and pilot them in your next sexual assault case review. Measure consistency, victim engagement and investigative clarity, then expand the process department-wide.
How is your agency working to standardize sexual assault investigations and improve survivor confidence in the process? Share below.
