Henrico Police officials introduce 'soft interview room'

Henrico Police officials have opened a new "soft interview room" for survivors of sexual assault, in partnership with the nonprofit Project Beloved: The Molly Jane Mission.

The organization focuses on empowering sexual assault survivors and was created by a mother who lost her daughter to sexual assault violence. It works to provide survivors with resources to help them through the process of finding justice, including backpacks with essential items to be given after rape kits are performed, and the creation of soft interview rooms.

Soft interview rooms are a component of trauma-informed care that allows survivors to feel safe and comfortable when talking to law enforcement about the incident that occurred.

Each soft interview room features three comfortable chairs: one for a law enforcement officer, one for the survivor, and one that may be used by a second officer or an advocate for the survivor. The rooms are softly lit, and feature wall photographs taken by a sexual assault victim who was an amateur photographer before her death.

Soft interview rooms typically include decorative pieces, weighted blankets, comforting scents, and other items that can help a survivor feel safe while telling their stories.

Henrico Police’s soft interview room is the 58th room that Project Beloved has installed in the United States and the third in Virginia, with others located at Virginia Military Institute and the Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. It will be used for survivors only, while those suspected of committing crimes will continue to be interviewed in traditional interview rooms.

If you’re a survivor of sexual assault violence or know someone who is, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance offers chat, text, and call hotline options. For details, visit vsdvalliance.org/get-help-ayuda/hotlines/ or call the 24/7 hotline at 1-800-838-8238.