[katv.com]Police department creates 'soft interview room' to accommodate sexual assault survivors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (TND) — A police department in Missouri debuted the first "soft interview room" in the state to accommodate sexual assault survivors and make them feel more comfortable during the interview process.

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department posted before and after photos of the room as it went through a big makeover. Police said soft rooms act as a "critical component of Trauma-Informed Care, allowing survivors to feel physically and emotionally safe."

[kcpd.org]KCPD Installs First “Soft Interview Room” In Missouri by Project Beloved

After a total makeover, KCPD now has the first “Soft Room” in Missouri installed by the nonprofit Project Beloved.

Detectives from the Special Victims Unit (SVU) will use the soft room to accommodate and interview survivors of sexual assault and trauma. A soft room is a critical component of Trauma-Informed Care, allowing survivors to feel physically and emotionally safe. This can have a positive impact on the interview process.

The makeover included carpet, art work, furniture, and lighting. KCPD is grateful for another nonprofit, the Police Foundation of Kansas City, which funded this remodel. This project would not be possible without them.

Also pictured is what old interview room like to show the drastic improvement. Project Beloved is based out of Texas

[kctv5.com]Police department creates ‘soft’ interview room for assault survivors

The Kansas City Police Department unveiled its first “soft room,” the first of its kind in Missouri.

The soft room will be used to interview survivors of sexual assault and trauma.

The department said a soft room is a “critical” component of trauma-informed care and allows survivors to feel physically and emotionally safe. It can also have a positive impact on the interview process.

[wsls.com]National Crime Victims’ Rights Week brings light to Soft Interview Room in Lynchburg

A way to make victims feel safe — that’s the goal of the new Soft Interview Room for the Lynchburg Victim Witness Program.

[dentonrc.com]New ‘soft’ interview room at Denton police station designed to set crime victims at ease

When victims of violent crimes across the nation enter a police station for an interview, they can probably expect to find themselves in the same barren room that suspects do.

Just a table and chairs is suitable for some interviews. However, as victims of violent crimes tell detectives about what is likely one of the most traumatic moments of their lives, the typical interview room environment offers little comfort.

Tracy Matheson is all too familiar with this issue after her 22-year-old daughter, Molly Jane Matheson, was raped and murdered. The loss led her down a deep path of research into firsthand accounts from victims that many feel unheard and uncomfortable during the criminal investigation process.

[tanglewoodmoms.com]Worthy Convos: Project Beloved

There isn’t a word in the English language that can describe the pain the Matheson family has endured since losing their Molly Jane in April of 2017. But determined to use her daughter’s story as a catalyst for change, Tracy Matheson found the strength to start Project Beloved: The Molly Jane Mission, a nonprofit devoted to changing the conversation about sexual assault and empowering survivors to find their voices.

[kvue.com]Advocates host rally in support of proposed legislation to help domestic, sexual violence survivors

AUSTIN, Texas —

Advocates for sexual and domestic violence survivors hosted a rally at the Texas State Capitol on Thursday to support survivor-centered legislation filed in the 88th legislative session.

The Texas Council on Family Violence and the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault hosted the event.

Shey ThompsonFebruary 20, 2023sexual assault, empower survivors, change the conversation, rally

[nbc12.com]New ‘soft interview rooms’ to help sexual assault victims

HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) - With comfortable chairs, blankets, chosen artwork and essential oils, the new ‘soft interview room” is now open at Henrico Police Headquarters.

Henrico Police Division Captain Lauren Nobles says the design helps make victims more comfortable while sharing details about a traumatic event with police as they investigate a case.

“Having anything that can be the most remote, more inviting is the key, is going to what allows us in law enforcement to help the victim,” Nobles said.

Rooms like this are being installed across the country, and Tracy Matheson is the leader behind these efforts.

[KUER.org]To ease victim’s trauma, the U’s new police station has a soft interview room

In the University of Utah’s recently unveiled police station, you’ll find something new. The facility includes a “soft interview room” — a space meant to help sexual assault victims feel more comfortable reporting crimes.

The room looks like a therapist’s office, or maybe even a spa. Warm lamps illuminate teal and gray couches, draped with weighted blankets. A diffuser emits a washed out green glow on the soft, felt walls.

A painting hangs on the emerald green back wall. “A forest with purple flowers and the sun coming through on the other side of the trees, sort of relating hope through the art,” said Hilary White, the crime victim advocate coordinator for the University of Utah Police.

Until now, everyone — suspects and victims — were interviewed in the same cold, sterile room.

[brproud.com]LSU joins non-profit to change treatment of sexual assault survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) ––– College campuses across the country are no strangers to sexual assault cases, but how and where police speak to survivors greatly impacts the quality of investigations.

Thirteen percent of all college students experience some form of sexual assault, but only about thirty-one percent report an assault to the police. But reporting means police often have to interview the survivor to get the assailant off the streets.

After suffering a tragic loss, Matheson decided more needed to be done to protect survivors. “Project Beloved is a nonprofit that I founded in the aftermath of what I would describe as a parent’s worst nightmare. My daughter, Molly Jane, was raped and murdered April 10th, 2017,” Matheson explained.

[fox4news.com]New documentary tells story of change after tragedy

TCU students debut a new documentary about protections for survivors of sexual assault that came after the rape and murder of a college student from Fort Worth, Molly Matheson. Molly's mother, Tracy, and TCU film instructor, Charity Robinson, joined Good Day to talk about the film "Beloved." Tracy also started a charity in Fort Worth to help survivors of sexual assault.

[wfaa.com] 'This monster could have been stopped': DNA linked him to a rape, but he remained free. Then two women were killed.

Their deaths shocked North Texas.

Molly Matheson’s mother found her 22-year-old daughter raped, strangled and murdered in her Texas Christian University-area garage apartment in April 2017.

Press Conference | McKinney Church | Fort Worth | April 10, 2018

Tracy MathesonApril 16, 2018Project Beloved, Molly Jane Mission, Molly Matheson, Tracy Matheson, change the conversation, empower survivors, sexual assault

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