Effectiveness of the training program in Investigative Interviews in Chilean police officers

Abstract

The Law 21.057 allows in Chile the technique of Vide-Recorded Investigative Interviewing (VRI) to prevent secondary victimization of children and adolescents who are victims of sexual and other major crimes, and also to collect their testimonies in an appropriate manner while also respecting their rights. Approximately half of the accredited interviewers for this task are part of Carabineros de Chile and Policía de Investigaciones, therefore, it is essential to evaluate their competencies. In this study, 61 professionals were evaluated who conducted a simulated interview with role-playing interpreters representing child and adolescent victims before and after their participation in the Initial Specialized Training Courses (CIFE), which was carried out between 2018 and 2020. In line with national and international experiences, the results show a substantial increase in the formulation of questions that promote the victims’ free narrative and a significant decrease in less recommended or harmful questions. Some advantages were observed in the performance of female professionals and those with prior experience of knowledge in VRI, highlighting the need for continuous training and practice to level their competencies.