| Abstract [eng] |
Many people are exposed to violent events. It can be noted that as many as 54,602,000 cases of domestic violence have been recorded in recent years (Lietuvos policija 2024). Although the figures cover a narrow range of violent crimes, it is possible to see how many such cases there are. Victims not only have to recover from the experience of violence but also have to deal with institutions that can help or, on the contrary, exacerbate the pain they are experiencing. Unfortunately, there are few studies that reveal the unique experiences of victims in Lithuania. The objectives of the study are to assess the compliance of police officers’ behaviour with procedural justice requirements during interviews with victims of violence, and to examine the psychological effects of these interview experiences on the victims. The study involved 6 victims of violence (psychological/sexual/physical) who had participated in a police interview over a period of three years. The average age of the participants was approximately 27 years. Data were collected through a modified cognitive interview and analysed using Braun and Clarke thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; 2023). The results showed that when officers allowed the victims to express their opinions, showed respect, were neutral and built trust, this led to a sense of security, reassurance and joy during the interviews. The ignoring, blaming, interrupting and coldness of the victim during the interviews led to feelings of guilt, anger and irrelevance. After the interviews, the participants share different emotions, relief, trust in law enforcement and willingness to share with others about the interview experience, and negative emotions such as feelings of anxiety, guilt, and decreased trust in law enforcement. |
