This lesson covers how investigators collect and document evidence, preserve integrity, and manage privacy during harassment investigations.
Evidence Collection and Documentation
This lesson covers how investigators collect and document evidence, preserve integrity, and manage privacy during harassment investigations.
What you learn:
- Provide compassionate post-incident support
- Plan reintegration with safety and dignity in mind
- Monitor for retaliation and ensure remedies take hold
- Evaluate the effectiveness of post-incident actions
Description:
Dealing with the aftermath of an incident requires care and ongoing monitoring. This module covers trauma-informed support, reintegration strategies, and non-retaliation monitoring mechanisms to sustain safety and trust after an incident. Realistic scenarios illustrate practical steps for leadership and teams.
Evidence Collection and Documentation
Evidence collection supports credible findings and protects privacy. Maintain chain of custody for physical, digital, and testimonial evidence.
Documentation should be clear, factual, complete, and non-judgmental. Use neutral language and record dates, times, locations, and witnesses.
- Interviews: record consent, summarize statements, identify corroborating or contradicting details
- Digital evidence: screenshots, emails, chat logs; secure storage and timestamps
- Physical evidence: where applicable, preservation and labeling
- Contemporaneous notes: maintain contemporaneous notes and avoid edits after recording
Privacy and access: restrict who can view evidence; protect sensitive information while enabling a thorough review.