The initial interaction between rape victims and police officers affects how cases progress through the criminal justice system. In one US state capitol, the police agency determined its initial response to rape victims was sub-par. Victim engagement was low, and officer-written reports often endorsed negative stereotypes about rape victims. A four-hour training to enhance police response was developed and implemented. Within four months, all sworn officers (n ~ 600) completed an in-person, four-hour training. We first test the effects of training on the percentage of rape victims who stay engaged in the investigative process following their initial contact with officers. We then use a machine-learning-based text analysis of all written reports (77 pre-training, and 55 post-training cases) of initial contacts between officers and victims. Compared to the six months before training, victim engagement improved 32% in the post-training period. Written reports by officers also improved, with increased victim-supportive language and improved focus on victim services.

强奸受害者与警官之间的最初互动会影响案件在刑事司法系统中的进展。在美国的一个州议会大厦中，该警察局确定其对强奸受害者的最初反应未达标。受害者的参与度很低，军官撰写的报告经常认可有关强奸受害者的负面定型观念。制定并实施了为时四小时的培训，以加强警察的反应。在四个月内，所有宣誓就职的军官（n〜600）完成了为期四个小时的面对面培训。我们首先测试培训对初次与警官联系后仍参与调查过程中强奸受害者所占百分比的影响。然后，我们使用基于机器学习的文本分析，对官员与受害者之间的最初接触的所有书面报告（培训前77例，培训后55例）进行了分析。与培训前的六个月相比，培训后的受害者参与度提高了32％。官员的书面报告也有所改善，增加了受害者支持语言，并更加注重受害者服务。