Throughout her law enforcement career, Sandie interviewed hundreds of victims and witnesses of domestic violence. She comprehends the critical impact those conversations have on victims feeling supported, understood and heard and how victim sentiments can influence investigations and case outcomes.
Sandie utilizes non-judgmental, open-ended, trauma-informed communication skills to encourage victim disclosure and recall. These techniques are done in a timeline fashion and better illustrate the victim’s experiences within the abusive relationship. She refers to this skill as “victim whispering,” a term she coined during her career.
These conversations help victims describe the subtle nuances of their perpetrators’ abuse and show both the non-criminal abuse (coercive control) and the criminal acts of violence and abuse, which ultimately influence decisions victims make to survive their circumstances. Sandie encourages victims to share as much or as little of their experiences as they would like and conducts these conversations in a friendly, non-accusatory fashion. Sandie enjoys victim interactions and appreciates the wisdom of their decisions and courage to do what feels most protective in each situation they experienced.