[wtap.com]Athens County Sheriff’s Office opens soft interview room for trauma victims

ATHENS, Ohio (WTAP) - The Athens County Sheriff’s Office opened a soft interview room last week designed to make trauma victims feel more comfortable when reporting crimes.

The room became operational approximately a week ago after the office waited about a year on a grant waiting list. The furnishings arrived in late February 2026.

[spectrumnews1.com]Athens County Sheriff's Office unveils soft interview room

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Athens County Sheriff’s Office unveiled a soft interview room this week, dedicated to creating a calm environment for trauma-informed interviews.

[YouTube.com]Lynchburg police reveal new comforting rooms for victims

The Lynchburg Police Department has created two soft interview rooms, one for adults and one for juveniles, to provide a comfortable and secure space for victims and witnesses of crime to talk about their experiences.

[wset.com]Police in Lynchburg launch 'soft interview rooms' for victims and children

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — Lynchburg police are changing the way they interview victims and witnesses with the launch of two new “soft interview rooms” designed to create a calmer, more supportive environment for some of the department’s most vulnerable individuals.

[texassignal.com]How Trauma-Informed Care Strengthens Justice For Sexual Assault Survivors

In Texas, less than one in ten sexual assault survivors report the crime to law enforcement, according to a report from the Houston Area Women’s Center. When survivors do choose to file a report, the process is often far from painless: clothing must be stripped and collected, interviews and statements must be given, and physical examinations must occur to collect DNA and further evidence. When executed incorrectly, this can lead to re-traumatization—which is why Tracy Matheson’s mission is to give survivors autonomy and comfort in their most vulnerable moments.

[morningjournal.com]North Ridgeville Police adds comfort room at station

North Ridgeville Police Department has built a “comfort room” to conduct interviews with assault victims.

“The North Ridgeville Police Department is proud to announce the opening of a newly designed soft interview room, made possible through Project Beloved, a nonprofit organization that focuses on empowering sexual assault survivors,” the department stated in a news release.

[altavistajournal.com]Sheriff’s Office opens trauma-informed interview space with support grant from Project Beloved

The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is proud to announce the opening of a newly designed interview space made possible through a grant from Project Beloved, a nonprofit dedicated to changing the conversation about sexual assault.

The grant was awarded to CCSO in 2024, and the project was completed on July 26, 2025. The new room offers a warm, welcoming, and trauma-informed environment where adult survivors of sexual assault and interpersonal violence can feel safe to share their stories.

[gmu.edu]George Mason provides soft interview room to support survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence

The George Mason University Police Department recently installed a soft interview room on campus to support survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. With support from Project Beloved: The Molly Jane Mission, a nonprofit organization, the soft interview room provides a critical component of trauma informed care to the campus community.

[conwaydailysun.com]Ossipee police station features 'soft' interview room

OSSIPEE — The new Ossipee police station now has a comfortable place for victims to tell their stories to officers thanks to a grant from an organization in Texas called Project Beloved: The Molly Jane Mission.

[katv.com]Police department creates 'soft interview room' to accommodate sexual assault survivors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (TND) — A police department in Missouri debuted the first "soft interview room" in the state to accommodate sexual assault survivors and make them feel more comfortable during the interview process.

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department posted before and after photos of the room as it went through a big makeover. Police said soft rooms act as a "critical component of Trauma-Informed Care, allowing survivors to feel physically and emotionally safe."

[kcpd.org]KCPD Installs First “Soft Interview Room” In Missouri by Project Beloved

After a total makeover, KCPD now has the first “Soft Room” in Missouri installed by the nonprofit Project Beloved.

Detectives from the Special Victims Unit (SVU) will use the soft room to accommodate and interview survivors of sexual assault and trauma. A soft room is a critical component of Trauma-Informed Care, allowing survivors to feel physically and emotionally safe. This can have a positive impact on the interview process.

The makeover included carpet, art work, furniture, and lighting. KCPD is grateful for another nonprofit, the Police Foundation of Kansas City, which funded this remodel. This project would not be possible without them.

Also pictured is what old interview room like to show the drastic improvement. Project Beloved is based out of Texas

[kctv5.com]Police department creates ‘soft’ interview room for assault survivors

The Kansas City Police Department unveiled its first “soft room,” the first of its kind in Missouri.

The soft room will be used to interview survivors of sexual assault and trauma.

The department said a soft room is a “critical” component of trauma-informed care and allows survivors to feel physically and emotionally safe. It can also have a positive impact on the interview process.

[kcur.org]Kansas City Police built a 'soft room' for interviewing victims, inspired by a mother's tragedy

Tracy Matheson's organization Project Beloved is funding makeovers of rooms that police use to interview sexual assault victims — including in Kansas City, Missouri. The project was born after the violent death of Matheson's daughter.

[wbay.com]UW-Green Bay has Wisconsin’s first Project Beloved soft interview room

The UW-Green Bay Police Department is helping to support sexual assault survivors with a new soft interview room on campus.

It’s a victim-centered approach, a first in Wisconsin, sponsored by the non-profit “Project Beloved”.

There are many obstacles when seeking justice for sexual assault survivors.

That first step is reporting what happened to them. It can be one of the toughest hurdles.

[npr.org]After a tragedy, a mother wants to soften the rooms where police interview victims

Tracy Matheson's mission for the past several years grew out of a parent’s worst nightmare.

Molly Jane, Matheson’s 22-year-old daughter, was raped and murdered in her Fort Worth, Texas-area apartment on April 10, 2017. Her killer, Reginald Kimbro, went on to murder a second woman, Megan Getrum, 36, just days later.

Kimbro was sentenced to multiple life sentences for those murders and additional sexual assaults in 2022.

Since her daughter’s death, Matheson has channeled her pain into her nonprofit, Project Beloved: The Molly Jane Mission, an organization dedicated to advocating for sexual assault victims. The group's name was inspired by Molly Jane Matheson’s wrist tattoo that said “Beloved.”

[publicnewsservice.org]TX group works to soften trauma for sexual assault survivors

A north Texas nonprofit organization is working to reduce stress for trauma survivors creates "soft" police station interview rooms. They paint the walls and add comfortable furniture, lamps, rugs and artwork to make them less cold and sterile.

[wsls.com]National Crime Victims’ Rights Week brings light to Soft Interview Room in Lynchburg

A way to make victims feel safe — that’s the goal of the new Soft Interview Room for the Lynchburg Victim Witness Program.

[dentonrc.com]New ‘soft’ interview room at Denton police station designed to set crime victims at ease

When victims of violent crimes across the nation enter a police station for an interview, they can probably expect to find themselves in the same barren room that suspects do.

Just a table and chairs is suitable for some interviews. However, as victims of violent crimes tell detectives about what is likely one of the most traumatic moments of their lives, the typical interview room environment offers little comfort.

Tracy Matheson is all too familiar with this issue after her 22-year-old daughter, Molly Jane Matheson, was raped and murdered. The loss led her down a deep path of research into firsthand accounts from victims that many feel unheard and uncomfortable during the criminal investigation process.

[news5cleveland.com]Sexual assault survivor helps create welcoming interview rooms at law enforcement agencies

MEDINA, Ohio — A local sexual assault survivor is on a mission to help others who have also lived through traumatic situations.

Kelsey Lambrakis, of North Ridgeville, is bringing awareness and helping to make changes at local police departments and sheriff's offices so that victims feel believed, supported and comforted.

In 2022, Lambrakis was the victim of a sexual assault in Medina County. The crime was committed by a man she knows.

"It really, truly imploded every inch of my life," Lambrakis said.

[www.mystateline.com]Freeport Police redesign interview room to be more welcoming to trauma survivors

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Freeport Police have given one of its interview rooms a makeover to accommodate survivors of violence.

The new “soft interview” room features a “trauma-informed” design after being repainted and carpeted and given new furnishings to make the room more comfortable.

In the News

Tracy Matheson's organization Project Beloved is funding makeovers of rooms that police use to interview sexual assault victims — including in Kansas City, Missouri. The project was born after the violent death of Matheson's daughter.