WEST VALLEY CITY — In keeping with its recent focus on supporting survivors of sexual violence, the West Valley Police Department opened a "soft" interview room this week.
The room, designed and partially funded by John Paras Furniture, was created as an alternative to the stark, all-purpose interview rooms previously used to interview suspects and survivors alike.
“Until now, victim interviews were all being done in what were essentially interrogation rooms,” said Rachelle Hill, the city’s victim services coordinator. “Metal chairs, white walls. … Even as an advocate, I felt very uncomfortable in those rooms.”
In deliberate contrast, the soft room was outfitted with overstuffed chairs and painted a deep blue. In addition to improving interviewees’ experiences, Hill said, the physical and psychological comfort of the soft room will help officers obtain more detailed, accurate testimonies from victims.
“Being in a comfortable and non-threatening setting can help aid victims in recounting more information surrounding what has happened to them and can help make them better witnesses,” said West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku. “By supporting the needs of victims and witnesses, our ability to conduct successful investigations is improved, as is the likelihood of prosecutions and convictions in these special cases.”
Hill described the new interview room as a universal benefit.
“This soft room changes the attitude of everyone coming in,” she said. “The officer seems to be more relaxed, I feel more comfortable as an advocate, and the victims seem more at ease.”
West Valley Police Sgt. Steve O'Camb knows the power of soft rooms personally, having used those of other organizations to conduct particularly sensitive interviews. O'Camb said he looks forward to unlimited access to a soft room of his own.
"This will give us a real ace in the hole when it comes to places to conduct interviews," he said.
Although the room is primarily for use by victims of sexual or domestic violence, O’Camb said it has already been used to interview victims of unrelated crimes. The room will remain available to all, with preference given to special victims.
Hill encouraged reluctant survivors to consider reporting their assaults or reopening halted investigations.
"We are going to believe you," she said. "We’re going to give you a safe, comfortable place to come in and report the crime. We’re going to treat you as a guest, as someone we respect and want to be there. I think this room shows that.”
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