Trauma Informed Survivor Statement Trilogy (OPVTA Vol. 189)

This series of videos was produced by the Ontario Provincial Police Video Production Unit and has been provided to the OPVTA to distribute to Canadian police services.

This program consists of three documentary videos that were created with actual survivors, police officers, Dr. Lori Haskell (Trauma Informed Subject Matter Expert (SME)), and Crown Attorney SMEs. Each of the survivors is interviewed by a police officer as though it was their first-time reporting their information to police.

The three separate video survivors are:

• Survivor of Human Trafficking (76 minutes)
• Adult victim survivor of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest (88 minutes)
• Indigenous survivor of domestic sexual assault (55 minutes)

At the conclusion of the statements (redacted for time), the SMEs each comment on the aspects of the statement that were trauma informed (Dr. Lori Haskell), and then the aspect of the statements that can be used to enhance a criminal case (Crown Attorneys). These three videos are examples of the theory of “trauma-informed”, “victim-centred” statements that can be used as evidence in a court room. These videos go beyond the theory and demonstrate to police officers and others an actual, “trauma-informed” interviewing practice that is appropriate for criminal investigations.