Explain the concept of a victim-centered prompt in interviews.

• A. Framing questions to empower the victim, focusing on safety and agency, avoiding blame, and using non-leading prompts.
• B. Framing questions to test truthfulness with forced-choice options.
• C. Using leading prompts to quickly obtain admissions.
• D. Directing the victim to reveal the most damaging details first.

Answer: (A)

A victim-centered prompt in interviews centers on trauma-informed practice: questions that respect the survivor’s safety, autonomy, and dignity while inviting them to share in their own words. The aim is to empower the victim, avoid blaming language, and keep the discussion non-leading so the person feels in control of what they disclose. Open-ended, neutral prompts allow memories to surface at the survivor’s pace, which helps reduce re-traumatization and increases the likelihood of accurate information because the narrative is guided by the victim’s own recollection rather than by the interviewer’s expectations. This approach also builds trust and creates a safer environment, which is crucial for authentic disclosure.

In contrast, approaches that push truthfulness with forced-choice options, use leading prompts to secure admissions, or push for the most damaging details first tend to bias the account, can retraumatize the victim, and undermine both safety and information quality.