What practice should officers avoid in sexual assault reports to ensure completeness?

The practice that officers should avoid in sexual assault reports to ensure completeness is asking the victim to write down their statement. This approach can complicate the reporting process and may deter victims from fully engaging in the reporting interview. Victims of sexual assault often experience trauma that can affect their memory and ability to articulate their experiences in writing, which may lead to incomplete or fragmented statements.

Officers should conduct the interview in a supportive environment where they can guide the victim through their account verbally, allowing for clarification and follow-up questions that can help capture a more comprehensive understanding of the incident. This method supports the victim's emotional state and can encourage a more thorough and accurate recall of events.

While inquiring about the victim's personal life, recording the statement verbatim, or consulting with family may be relevant in some contexts, they are not as directly impactful as the practice of requiring a written statement that can hinder the reporting process. These other options can provide context or support, but they do not specifically impact the clarity and completeness of the primary victim's account as much as the written statement does.