Hearing at the police station

What is a hearing?

A hearing is an interview where you describe what happened to the police. The interview takes place in a special room at the police station. In some cases, the interview might happen at Barnahús.

Preparation

Your legal rights protector will prepare you for the interview and tell you what to expect. It's best to have your legal rights protector and a child protection services representative with you during the interview itself. If you still need to find a legal rights protector, you can get a list of lawyers from the police.

More about the interview:

• The interview is recorded, both sound and video.
• In the room, it will be you, a police investigator, your legal rights protector, and a person from child protection services. If you need an interpreter, they will be there too.
• If you realize later that you could have said more in the interview, you can contact your legal rights protector and ask to add to your statement. The investigator might then call you back for another hearing so that the extra information is also recorded.
• Having a hearing doesn't automatically mean that charges will be pressed for the abusive act.

Good to know

• Before your interview, your legal rights protector will go over how it works and what you need to bring.
• It can help to have talked about what happened out loud before you go to the interview. This can make it easier to explain things clearly. You can do this alone, with someone you trust, or with your legal rights protector.
• You're allowed to bring notes, a notebook to write in, or a prepared text.
• You can ask for a different investigator to do the interview if you don't want to talk to the person who greets you.
• Don't hide it if you've used alcohol or drugs. It won't change your situation, but it can help with the investigation.
• After the hearing, it's normal to feel tired or empty, so it's not a good idea to go straight to school, work, or your usual daily tasks. It's best to give yourself time to recover.
• It's important to describe what happened as clearly as possible. Don't hesitate to use exact words, even if they are difficult or sensitive. Investigators are used to hearing about complicated and tough situations related to domestic abuse.

Surprising things

There are some things that might surprise you during the interview. Here are some examples:

• The interview might feel a bit cold or distant. The reason for this is that the people investigating the case have to be neutral. Their goal is only to get as much information as possible about what happened, so try not to let that bother you.
• The investigator will need to ask many uncomfortable questions, including about very personal and sensitive experiences.
• The investigator doing the interview won't be in a police uniform but in regular clothes.

How long does this take?

The interview usually takes about an hour. Sometimes it takes longer, so it's good to be prepared for that.

What happens next?

Now comes a waiting period while the police investigate the case. There's not much you can do except focus on your own well-being and safety.

Another interview

While the investigation is happening, the police might call you in for another interview to get more details about something that came up in their investigation, or to ask you for some information. If this happens, the police will contact your legal rights protector, who will help you answer.