Should a Survivor Speak With an Institution's Outside Investigator?

An institution may retain an outside attorney or investigator to examine historical reports of abuse. Participation may provide survivors with an opportunity to be heard and may help document patterns or identify responsible individuals. Participation can also raise important questions — and they are better asked before an interview than after.

The Questions to Ask First

• Who retained the investigator, and who pays them?
• Who will receive my statement, and in what form?
• Will the interview be recorded? How will it be summarized?
• May the information be shared with the institution or with law enforcement?
• Is confidentiality promised — and does that promise have exceptions?
• Will documents I provide be retained?
• May I have an attorney or support person present?

What Interlochen Has Said

Interlochen has stated that Sanghavi Law Office prepared its report independently and that Interlochen did not edit the report. Interlochen has also stated that the names of individuals accused of misconduct were provided to local prosecutors and law enforcement, and that the investigator can still be contacted through October 30, 2026 by people with information.

Those statements do not mean that participating is necessarily beneficial or harmful for every survivor. An investigator retained by an institution — however independent — is not the survivor's advocate, and the account a survivor provides becomes part of a record the survivor does not control.

The Decision Is Individual

The decision depends on the survivor's goals, emotional readiness, privacy concerns, legal position, and the terms under which information will be provided. A survivor may choose to obtain independent legal advice before giving a detailed statement or providing personal records — and may want to understand how privacy works at each step first.

This article is general information, not legal advice about any individual situation.