JustGroup Launches a Project to Support the Institutionalisation of Investigative Interviewing in Ukraine
Systemic change becomes visible when new approaches move beyond individual initiatives and become part of everyday professional practice. With this goal in mind, JustGroup is launching a new project to support the institutionalisation of investigative interviewing in Ukraine.
The project brings together research, policy analysis, methodological development, professional dialogue, and advocacy to support the integration of investigative interviewing into Ukraine’s criminal justice system. Its objective is to assess the current state of implementation while creating practical tools and conditions for the further development of the approach.
A System-Wide Perspective on Change
One of the project’s key components is a study based on the Framework of Interviewing Transformation (FIT) methodology, which is designed to assess the implementation of investigative interviewing at the system level. Unlike approaches that focus solely on individual training programmes or specific institutions, FIT examines how the different elements of the system interact and reinforce one another.
The methodology comprises ten interconnected components that together determine the level of institutionalisation of investigative interviewing. Within this project, the research will focus on some of these components.
The findings will provide the evidence base for the project’s subsequent activities. They will help identify which legislative, organisational, and educational measures already support the institutionalisation of investigative interviewing and which areas require further development. These findings will also shape the project’s future outputs and advocacy priorities.
From Research to Practical Solutions
The project combines several interconnected streams of work, each reinforcing the others. The research will generate an evidence base for future decisions, policy and methodological documents will propose practical mechanisms for implementation, while professional dialogue and advocacy will support their integration into the work of criminal justice institutions.
One of the project’s first outputs will be a policy paper summarising the findings of the assessment of investigative interviewing implementation in Ukraine and outlining recommendations for its further institutionalisation. This document will serve as the analytical foundation for developing methodological recommendations on the application of investigative interviewing during criminal investigations.
These methodological recommendations will be developed in cooperation with representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the National Police of Ukraine, the Office of the Government Agent before the European Court of Human Rights, higher education institutions, the expert community, and international partners. This collaborative approach will help establish shared standards for the application of investigative interviewing and support their broader implementation in practice.
An international workshop will also form an important part of the project. Ukrainian and international experts will work together to refine methodological approaches to conducting FIT assessments. This professional exchange will make it possible to draw on international experience in assessing the institutionalisation of investigative interviewing while placing Ukraine’s experience within a broader international context.
The next phase of the project will focus on supporting the advocacy and implementation of the developed documents. Working meetings, consultations, and expert discussions will help align the next steps among key institutions and contribute to the development of a roadmap for the further institutionalisation of investigative interviewing in Ukraine.
Why This Matters
Investigative interviewing is more than a methodology for conducting interviews. It is a professional approach that transforms the way information is obtained during criminal investigations. Its purpose is to ensure that information is complete, reliable, and verifiable while respecting human rights, professional ethics, and international standards.
This project goes beyond assessing the current level of implementation. It aims to create practical mechanisms that will support the long-term institutionalisation of investigative interviewing—from evidence-based analysis and methodological guidance to sustained professional dialogue among key institutions.
By combining research, policy development, methodological work, and advocacy, the project will help identify which solutions are already working, which require additional support, and what further steps are needed to make investigative interviewing an integral part of professional practice in Ukraine.
The project is implemented by JustGroup with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine — a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of JustGroup and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden, and ISAR Ednannia.
