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I have been in the law enforcement world since 1991, having interviewed thousands of people for various crimes and as witnesses. I thought I had it down pat. After completing the FETI training, I realized how better prepared I was now for today’s interview scenarios…trust me, FETI is where it’s at…you will not be disappointed!

The training was a great experience. You can tell that Lori Heitman is an expert in her field and her knowledge of best practices in FETI interviewing is extremely helpful. As an advocate, I look forward to utilizing the skills that I learned when helping victim/survivors of sexual violence. I would recommend this training to anyone who wants to hone their skills in interviewing and communication in general.

Great training! Some of the best all around training I have been to in my entire law enforcement career. It is evident you all are passionate about what you do and care about all of us.

- LEO Attendee

Read the actual evaluations turned in by attendees after a Practical Application of FETI (In-person) course in Hanover, New Hampshire. The following document is unfiltered and includes every evaluation that was turned in.

Some of the comments include:

Made me feel comfortable in an uncomfortable situation.

Law Enforcement Attendee

I learned more at this training than any other training I have gone to about interviews.

Law Enforcement Attendee

I thought this course was awesome!

Higher Education Attendee

Police officers should be neutral, fair and equitable when it comes to interviewing people involved in crimes to best ensure a successful investigation. That’s the theory behind a science-based interviewing methodology called FETI (Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview), which also emphasizes taking care not to re-traumatize crime victims while gathering information. 

“As our officers investigate crimes, it is important to understand how traumatic incidents are coded in the brain,” said CUPD Commander Eric Edford, who is also an investigator for the department. “FETI gives officers a tool to help extract facts when people who are involved with these crimes may not be able to readily recall information.”

CUPD Commander Eric Edford

Members of the CU Boulder Police Department (CUPD) received FETI training this spring, learning to maximize information collection from victims, witnesses and suspects after a crime occurs. The technique was put into practice immediately, adding to CUPD’s slate of options to help address mental health concerns and connect the campus community to resources. 

Investigating a case of sexual assault requires specific interview techniques, but many officers never receive such training.

“For almost the first decade of my law enforcement career, I didn’t receive training in trauma or how anxiety and stress affects memory. In short, I was never taught how to interview victims,” said Lori Heitman, a former Supervisory Special Agent with The United States Army Criminal Investigation Command. “Law enforcement are traditionally trained to interview suspects, so when they interview victims, through no malice, they typically apply the same techniques because that’s what they know.”

Heitman is currently the director of programming at Certified FETI, which teaches officers a science-based methodology for conducting effective victim interviews. FETI, which stands for Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview, focuses on enhancing the quality and quantity of information obtained from victims who have undergone highly stressful or traumatic experiences.

Great write up from Sammy Caiola (NPR) with our Director of Certification Carrie Hull.

“Hull says FETI helps police officers become more aware of their own assumptions, as well as their role in setting the tone and mood for a more productive conversation with crime victims: "How do you gather information from somebody where you are not introducing your own biases?" she says. "How do you acknowledge what those biases are? Know that separation between interview and investigation? So those are some of the really core concepts that we work with."

Carrie Hull, Director of Certification at Certified FETI

I’ve come to learn so much about FETI and have come to a deep level of appreciation for what this work means for justice, and more importantly for victims. I am proud to say that our FETI Interviewers are there for our community members when they have been victimized and that because of our efforts their healing process can be enhanced.

Using the FETI^® approach in higher education investigations allows us to gather information effectively and appropriately from all parties and witnesses, and interviewing for clarification ensures that the information gathered can be integrated into our investigations in a manner that is fair and equitable for all parties.

Hanover Police Department are leaders in community-based policing and have adopted the FETI Interviewing Methodology for their sworn officers.

Watch Chief Charlie Dennis share his thoughts on FETI.