Reviewing the Evidence and Evaluating the Impact of Sexual Assault Training on Police Officers

Sexual assault investigations training can significantly improve police officers' perceptions, knowledge, and behaviours related to sexual assault cases. Training can considerably improve police response to sexual assault. Training is effective across various study designs and remains impactful over time. Shorter training sessions (<4 hours) still produce meaningful improvements in police responses, making them practical for resource-limited agencies. Future evaluations should include more assessments of real-world behaviours in real investigations or interactions with survivors.