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Program

2023 workshops below:

The 13th Juror: Overcoming the "Real" Rape Myth (Pt. 1 & 2) - Julie Germann

Julie Germann

Prosecutors know they need 12 jurors to be unanimous for a conviction.  What most prosecutors don’t know is that it is the 13th juror in the box who controls the fate of their case. The 13th juror is never selected for jury duty but is present in every case and who is the expert on what “real” rape looks like and how “real” rape victims and “real” rapists behave. The 13th juror can infuse myth and bias into every aspect of the case and entirely influence charging standards. Allowing myth and bias to impact prosecutorial decisions leads to low prosecution and conviction rates.  This two-part workshop will cover how the 13th juror impacts charging decisions, describe standards for charging that eliminate myth and bias from their decision-making, trauma-informed trial practices from voir dire through closing arguments, and how to educate a jury on myths and bias, utilizing expert witnesses.

Achieving Justice at Trial: Direct Examination of Victims of Violent Crime - Patricia Powers, Rebecca Campbell

Patricia Powers, Rebecca Campbell

Victims are impacted by violent crimes in a myriad of ways and although there are commonalities, each victim’s response to trauma is unique to that individual. In order to support victim engagement throughout the criminal justice process, allied professionals must interact with victims in ways that consider the physical and emotional effects of trauma as well as the impact of COVID-19. Interviewers and prosecutors presenting victim testimony at trial must understand common responses to trauma and how they may affect a victim’s ability to recall and recount details of their experience of a violent crime. This workshop will discuss the impact of trauma on victims of violent crimes in cold and current cases, and explore research and practice-based information to assist allied professionals in helping victims to access and describe their experience. Emphasis will be placed on integrating a trauma-informed response from the first contact through the conclusion of the case.

Aquatic Crimes Against Women Staged as Noncriminal Swimming Pool & Open Water Deaths - Andrea Zaferes, Butch Hendrick

Andrea Zaferes, Butch Hendrick

When investigators respond to a crime scene involving water, several questions are inevitable…. Is this an accidental drowning? Was she homicidally drowned? Is this a strangulation staged as a suicidal drowning? Or is this a postmortem body disposal? Just as fire investigators and crash reconstructionists need training to recognize, identify, document, and investigate their respective scenes, anyone working cases involving pools or open water scenes need training on the realities of what happens to living and dead bodies in water. This includes the drowning process, how to determine truthfulness and deception during interviews, processing aquatic scenes, recovering small submerged evidence, packaging submerged bodies, processing submerged evidence for prints and DNA, and more. This interactive session provides hands-on skill practical drills that include optional in-water experiences and is valuable for law enforcement, CSI’s, aquatic first responders, prosecutors, and anyone who would work aquatic crimes against women cases.

Anticipating & Defeating Defense Tactics In Sexual Assault Cases - Wendy Patrick

Wendy Patrick

Sexual assault cases are challenging to investigate, and challenging to prove in court. Victims are reluctant to cooperate and jurors are reluctant to convict, especially when everyone was drinking. This workshop will tackle the additional factor of anticipating and diffusing defense tactics designed to sow seeds of doubt. In addition to using strategic voir dire questions and experts to explain victim behavior, anticipating and defeating predictable defense tactics is a major part of preparing a sexual assault case for trial. The presenter will cover how to defeat such tactics through gaining early victim trust and cooperation, utilizing a corroboration-focused method of interviewing, and broadening the scope of investigation and potential sources of evidence.

CASE STUDY: The Art of Prosecuting & How to Get it Right the First Time: The Cynthia Hrisco Case (Pt. 1) - Maria McCarthy, Andrea Zaferes

Maria McCarthy, Andrea Zaferes

Once a case is deemed an accident, it’s never given a second look. The file collects dust on a shelf. “When investigators don’t have witnesses, confessions, video, or believable “grieving” reporting parties;when police are dispatched to benign-looking “accident” scenes, and each person in the investigative chain relies on the opinions of the next person up, homicides are too often ruled ‘accidents’ and killers get away with murder.” This case study analyzes the 19-year investigative and prosecutorial journey of 51 year-old Frank Buschauer, who “found” his 47 year-old wife, Cynthia, dead in their bathtub. The scene didn’t make sense to the novice patrol officer and the forensic pathologist said that the manner of death was “Undetermined”. The case went cold for 11 years until it was re-opened by the then novice officer turned detective. The presenters will explain how to take an “accident” case to a successful homicide prosecution.

CASE STUDY: The Art of Prosecuting & How to Get it Right the First Time: The Case (Pt. 2) - Maria McCarthy, Hillary McGelligott

Maria McCarthy, Hillary McGelligott

“Since we don’t have physical evidence, an autopsy, a confession, or eyewitnesses, we won’t be able to prove that case.” In 1973, Donnie Rudd reported that an oncoming car caused him to swerve off the road, causing his wife’s death. The rookie patrol officer thought the scene was suspicious but relied on his more experienced colleagues. Those colleagues told the ER doctor about the “accident”, and the doctor concluded that the cause of death was a fractured cervical spine without doing a single x-ray. The coroner informed the inquest jury of the ER doctor’s conclusion. The coroner’s jury ruled that the manner of death was “Accident,” so there was no autopsy. Case closed. All evidence from the scene was destroyed. The dust was finally removed and Rudd was convicted of murder 45 years later. This case study will demonstrate how to overcome catastrophic mistakes and achieve a successful prosecution.

CASE STUDY: The Bad Motives of a “Good” Samaritan - Roya Williamson, Sandra Spriegel

Roya Williamson, Sandra Spriegel

During the early morning hours of a cold and dark February day, a stranger who pretended to be a good Samaritan when the victim ran out of gas, instead, kidnapped and sexually assaulted the victim. This case study will cover the initial investigation, subsequent activity of the offender, and the identification of the offender as well as the collaboration that was needed between law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, and the local women’s center to successfully prosecute the case.

SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Become a Google Jedi: Building a Better Boolean String - Lauren Wagner

Lauren Wagner

Google is everyone’s go-to search engine, but most people aren’t utilizing it to its full capacity. Google has built-in tools to search particular websites, exact phrases, and within URLs. This hands-on computer lab will teach attendees how to effectively use Google to filter search results to relevant and useable information. Attendees will complete hands-on exercises using Google Boolean and advanced Operators. 

CASE STUDY: Betrayal Trauma: An Examination of Therapy & Religious Abuse - Amy Nordhues, David Pooler

Amy Nordhues, David Pooler

The role of a therapist and church leader can be a fulfilling profession that deals with compassion, insight, and empowerment. However, it can also be delicately complex as a survivor’s emotional and mental state could hang in the balance. Unfortunately, there are times when a victim’s vulnerability can be preyed upon by an individual in a position of authority. This case study will explore the facets of abuse where the survivor was sexually exploited and abused as an adult by her therapist, a respected leader in her church, who was later convicted allowing her to pursue her healing. The presenters will discuss the aspects of religious trauma through the clinical lens of grooming, and the misuse of position and authorityand explore the impact of intermittent reinforcement on betrayal trauma.

Beyond Admissibility: Benefits to Understanding Polygraph - Jesse DeLeon, Angel Martinez

Jesse DeLeon, Angel Martinez

Understanding the polygraph examination as an investigative tool and the law enforcement polygraph examiner as an additional experienced investigator to add to investigative efforts is vital to stop or deter gender-based violence. Incorporating polygraph improves the success of investigators and prosecutors in holding offenders accountable in crimes against women including: stalking, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence investigations. The presenters will describe the beneficial role of polygraph and law enforcement polygraph examiners in crimes against women investigations.

Beyond the Basics: Partnerships with Law Enforcement - John Guard

John Guard

The benefits of multidisciplinary partnerships with law enforcement are robust and profound. Going beyond the who, what, when, where, why, and how, this workshop will identify individual strengths that the various allied professional disciplines bring to the table and when used in concert with law enforcement, how these combined strengths can improve outcomes for the survivors of domestic violence (DV). Additionally, the frustrations felt by allied professionals who work with victims of DV will be discussed. The Pitt County model was developed to address these frustrations and challenges while simultaneously increasing victim safety and offender accountability. This model, which has been in place for almost two decades, and the road map it follows (from the initial internal discussions to the full implementation and ongoing modifications) will also be shared.

Beyond the Criminal Case: Holistic Solutions for Human Trafficking Survivors through Attorney & Social Worker Partnerships - Kaitlyn Eberhardt, Sarah Lackey, Allison Neal

Kaitlyn Eberhardt, Sarah Lackey, Allison Neal

Victims of human trafficking have many unique needs when compared to victims of other forms of power-based abuse. In addition to many other service-oriented concerns related to trafficking victims, the civil rights of the victims is also an issue that requires attention. The presenters will take a deep dive into the dynamics of victim civil rights and will introduce available civil legal remedies that provide relief and freedom for human trafficking victims. The workshop will also cover innovative ways to bring together attorneys and social workers to even more successfully support survivors through trauma-informed services and care plans.

“Beyond the Gay Alphabet” Examining the Intersection Between the LGBTQIA+ Community's & Modern-Day Policing - Michael Crumrine, Denise Jones

Michael Crumrine, Denise Jones

Studies reveal that members of the LGBTQIA+ community are disproportionately affected by certain crime types such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and hate crimes. As more youth from every new generation identify with the LGBTQIA+ community, law enforcement (LE) must develop appropriate skill sets to engage the LGBTQIA+ community with the same professionalism and respect provided to others.  This workshop will explore the history between the LGBTQIA+ community and the criminal justice profession, provide information on how the community is disproportionally affected by certain crimes, and tools to help LE professionals respond to calls appropriately. The presenter will discuss the importance of knowing about the LGBTQIA+ community’s experience and share ways on how to better create an environment where LGBTQIA+ individuals feel comfortable accessing LE as well as being a part of the LE profession. Tangible tools and examples for genuine relationship building with the queer community will also be offered.

Black Women & Sexual Abuse: Breaking the Cycle of Silence - Katherine Barner

Katherine Barner

A myriad of factors come in to play with any sexual abuse survivor related to access to treatment, legal services, and other provisions. For Black women, these issues are magnified by a number of additional factors including: stereotypes perpetuating a notion that Black women are willing participants in their own victimization, perceptions that Black victims of sexual abuse are less believable and more responsible for their assault than a white victim, and the influence of the criminal justice systems history of treating white perpetrators and victims different than those of color. The presenter will utilize and share research, insights, and practices from African American advocates working to help end sexual violence in their communities. Additionally, the workshop is designed to directly address the need for service providers to engage with primary leaders, organizations, and stakeholders within the African American community and offer strategies on how to do so.

Bodily Harm: The Ramifications of Reproductive Coercion - Heena Khan

Heena Khan

Reproductive coercion is not only gravely underreported and widely misunderstood. As it is with all other forms of gender-based violence, reproductive coercion is steeped in the need for the abuser to exert and maintain power and control. A victim’s consent, body autonomy, boundaries, and healthcare are often compromised when in abusive relationships. The presenter will describe the different forms of reproductive coercion, the link between DV/IPV and reproductive coercion, the impact on the mother and baby’s mental health, it’s prevalence, therapeutic interventions and resources for systemic and community change.

Body-Worn Cameras in Law Enforcement: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly - Russell Strand

Russell Strand

Criminal justice professionals are accountable to the people they serve – the public. Law enforcement professionals must be as transparent as possible as they carry out their duties to “protect and serve”. The judicial system also demands the very best from law enforcement practitioners who strive every day to bring the reality of crime and criminal behavior into the court systems. One way to facilitate this transparency is for law enforcement officers to wear body-worn cameras. Although there are significant benefits, there are substantial risks as well. Cameras do not record thinking, decision-making, emotions, smells, or fears involved in the actions they record. Additionally, cameras also record only from one angle at a time. What seems to be the situation from one angle – may look completely different from another. This workshop will discuss the good, bad, and ugly concerning the use of body cameras by law enforcement. 

Bridging the Gap: The Collaboration Between Law Enforcement & Community- Based Advocacy - Jerry Meadors, Misty Biddick

Jerry Meadors, Misty Biddick

An increase in data reveals the pressing need for law enforcement and advocates to work more closely together in order to enhance victims’ pursuit of justice and ensure a higher probability of offender accountability.  Many times, the breakdown between these two entities causes investigative and prosecutorial details to fall through the cracks. This webinar will discuss building a successful partnership between community advocates and law enforcement agencies in order to address intimate partner violence (IPV), to include police culture regarding advocacy. The presenters will discuss the roles of law enforcement and community-based advocates in the response to IPV crimes, specifically in rural areas, and will highlight common challenges and solutions involving information sharing that may occur between advocates and law enforcement. Helpful suggestions for building and maintaining the vital relationships between first responders and advocates regarding IPV will also be discussed.

CASE STUDY: Bringing a Lifelong Abuser to Justice: The Prosecution of Timothy Heller - Rachel Kraker, Jeffrey Schwab

Rachel Kraker, Jeffrey Schwab

When Lacy Krube was found beaten and lifeless in a Saint Paul, MN home, the witnesses on scene reported she overdosed. However, responding officers knew there was more to the story. Soon after, homicide investigators were led to an attic bedroom 25 miles away where Ms. Krube had been staying with Timothy Heller prior to her death. Heller had amassed 13 domestic violence convictions prior to beating his girlfriend to death in February 2021. This case study will describe the investigation, prosecution and ultimate conviction of Heller and discuss the cross-jurisdiction investigation and prosecution of Heller complicated by difficult facts, uncooperative witnesses, and legal challenges. The presenters will highlight the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and prosecutors every step of the way and will provide helpful practice points on how to utilize law enforcement as domestic violence expert witnesses as well as how to effectively establish a past pattern of violence in first degree domestic murder cases.

A Broader Sense of Justice: Respecting Victim Autonomy While Pursuing Offender Accountability in Sexual & DV Cases - Jennifer Dolle

Jennifer Dolle

Prosecutors seeking justice in crimes of sexual and domestic violence must often balance holding perpetrators accountable and valuing victim autonomy. Reliving the traumatization of their sexual assault or domestic abuse while feeling like they are in the spotlight can be overwhelming and lead to reluctance to participate. The pressure to ensure offenders are fully prosecuted may tempt prosecutors to utilize more extreme methods without full appreciation of the impact on the victim or a consideration of possible alternatives. This workshop will discuss the obstacles victims face when considering whether to participate and will suggest strategies that prosecutors can use to minimize these barriers to facilitate victim participation. Presenters will highlight the negative impacts that pre-trial detention and other next-level measures have on victims and on the community. When victims are unable to participate, the presenters will discuss possible alternatives for the prosecutor and considerations for balancing public safety risks with victim self-determination.

Bringing Offenders into Focus: Prosecuting Image Exploitation - Jane Anderson

Jane Anderson

Image exploitation involves the nonconsensual creation, possession, or distribution of an image or images depicting victims nude, semi-nude, engaged in consensual sexual activity, or being sexually assaulted. It exposes victims to immeasurable trauma of essentially infinite duration, permanently invading their autonomy and security. As technology continues to evolve more quickly than the law, investigators and prosecutors must be prepared to address image exploitation crimes by collaborating on digital investigations; leveraging existing, if imperfect, statutes; and combating victim-blaming attitudes.  This workshop will explore the various forms of image exploitation and the types of statutes under which this abuse can be prosecuted. The presenter will provide strategies to introduce relevant digital evidence while ethically safeguarding victim privacy. Resources will also be provided to support victims who would like to explore non-criminal avenues of achieving justice.

Building a Domestic or Sexual Violence Case with the Defense in Mind - Nancy Oglesby, Lawrence Braunstein

Nancy Oglesby, Lawrence Braunstein

Investigating and prosecuting domestic violence and sexual violence cases are often very challenging. Many times, victim behavior is counter-intuitive, the victim’s ability to impart what happened can be compromised due to a number of factors and victims may disengage or become uncooperative with the prosecution prior to trial. This workshop, taught by two former prosecutors, one of whom is now a defense attorney, will address the difficult issues faced by law enforcement and prosecutors in bringing successful domestic violence and sexual assault cases to trial. At each phase of the process, the presenters will address how the defense will view and prepare for the case, as well as address best practices for law enforcement and prosecutors to build the strongest cases possible.

Building Human Trafficking Cases with Missing & Intimidated Victims - Jane Anderson, Jennifer Dolle

Jane Anderson, Jennifer Dolle

The victimization of survivors of sex and labor trafficking may persist long after the  trafficking stops. Following the arrest of a trafficker or a victim’s exit from exploitation, traffickers continue to assert force, fraud, and coercion against survivors.  These intimidation tactics enable offenders to escape criminal accountability since law enforcement and prosecutors are often unable to locate victims and witnesses necessary to build a case, or victims are too fearful or traumatized to participate in the criminal justice process.  This workshop will provide prosecutors and allied professionals with strategies for minimizing opportunities for intimidation and maximizing offender accountability when victims are intimidated or missing. Specifically, the presenter will discuss protective orders, courthouse safety measures, and strategies for bringing the voice into the courtroom through the doctrine of forfeiture by wrongdoing and other rules of evidence.

A Call to Lead: Disarming Domestic Violence Offenders - Julie Germann

Julie Germann

Guns and domestic violence are a lethal combination. When a woman is killed, in the U.S., it is most likely at the hands of an intimate partner with a gun. This workshop will discuss the major components of an effective firearms surrender program focusing on successful models from communities that have implemented surrender protocol.  Prosecutors are in a unique position to lead the effort to disarm offenders. The presenter will encourage prosecutors to lead by seizing all opportunities within the legal process to disarm offenders and by leveraging their relationships with criminal justice partners to lead the development of surrender protocol.

Campus Police: Not “Just Security” Anymore - Ashley Griffin

Ashley Griffin

Campus police are often dismissed as being just security guards on a campus, however,  in an ever-evolving world where campuses are more diverse and much more embedded in the larger community, campus police roles have had to change to meet the demands placed upon them. Cases ranging from dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault to high profile murder cases are not new, but the frequency of these crimes are significantly increasing on college campuses. This workshop will discuss the importance of including local campus police departments into existing multi-disciplinary teams and sexual assault response teams. The presenter will highlight the benefits of having campus police to have a seat at the table within the general law enforcement space. Strategies on how to bridge the gap between local municipal law enforcement agencies and university/college police departments to ensure victims (as students on campus to adults into the world) will also be shared.

Centering Sexual Assault Survivors through Collegiate & Prosecutorial Collaborations - Lauren Henfling, Danielle Fenton

Lauren Henfling, Danielle Fenton

Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males have been sexually assaulted. Of these students, only 20% will report to law enforcement. Common sighted reasons for not reporting or seeking help post assault include fear of not being believed, not wanting to report to law enforcement, and mistrust of the system.  To spearhead the problem and increase access to post-assault healthcare on campus, Michigan State University created a campus-based Sexual Assault Response Team and a Sexual Assault Healthcare Program that is open 24/7.
This workshop focuses on the need for improved campus and community responses, to identify the key stakeholders involved, and the need for collaboration among campus Title IX Offices and county Prosecutors in the criminal justice response. Overcoming the many barriers, specifically those unique to college campuses, that prevent survivors from accessing post-assault healthcare, privacy, transportation, and advocacy will also be discussed.

Charmed & Dangerous: Stalking by Intimate Partners vs Acquaintances or Strangers - Patrick Brady, Jennifer Landhuis

Patrick Brady, Jennifer Landhuis

Romantic comedies, crime dramas, and horror films convey inaccurate depictions of the dangerousness of stalkers. For the most part, popular culture tends to socialize us in believing that stalkers are comprised of mentally ill strangers who are obsessed with surveilling celebrities and public figures. In reality, however, most victims know their stalker in some fashion. Nevertheless, the risk of harm and lethality is substantially greater among those pursued by intimate partners. Using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey, as well as data collected from police and prosecutor case files, the presenters will debunk common misperceptions about stalking and discuss how intimate partner stalking complaints may differ from cases involving acquaintance or stranger stalkers.

Circle of Support: Exploring Interconnected Tribal Relationships within a Coordinated Community Response - Victoria Ybanez

Victoria Ybanez

A coordinated community response (CCR) is a great model for addressing gaps and impacts in the system responding to domestic violence. It is also a great resource for strengthening the local response. Unfortunately, the CCR Model does not address the unique conditions that occur within Tribal Communities, nor does it recognize the unique federal relationships with Tribes. This workshop will discuss features of institutions and their Indigenous solutions to enhancing safety for Indigenous Victims and holding offenders accountable. The presenter will provide insight into the key activities of the CCR within their Tribal Community. Additionally, the presenter will explore the critical Tribal practitioners that should be involved and how to involve and build partnerships with Tribal federal partners.

Closing the Gaps: Leveraging Existing Resources to Improve Desired Outcomes - John Guard

John Guard

As offenders strive to possess or maintain power and control, terrorize their victims, and avoid judicial consequences, they seek to employ various strategies to exploit the inherent gaps that are unknowingly created by the traditional responses of allied professionals within the criminal justice system and outside alike. This workshop will expose the weaknesses of these traditional responses along with how the offenders leverage them to evade accountability for their actions. This workshop will identify additional evidence, techniques, and system adjustments that can be deployed when assisting victims of intimate partner violence to improve outcomes. The strengths and processes specifically designed and intended to increase both victim safety and offender accountability that are embedded within the criminal justice system will also be discussed.

Coercive Control: Capturing the Invisible Harm of Domestic Violence - Pavalla Dhawan

Pavalla Dhawan

Domestic violence, as codified in the law, has historically excluded the experience of many survivors dealing with the harm of coercive control, a pattern of liberty deprivations intended to strip another person of their autonomy that may not involve any physical abuse. In recent years, a movement across the U.S., mirrored in legislation in the UK, has attempted to correct this omission by codifying coercive control in the law. This workshop will discuss the path of Senate Bill 1141, California’s 2021 coercive control law, including the bill’s origins, legislative history, practical uses, and impact. The presenter, who worked directly on the bill and whose office sponsored the legislation, will provide an overview of the coercive control landscape on both a national and international level, challenges to implementation of new laws, and a path forward, providing attendees with the language to better understand, describe, and combat coercive control.

Collaborative Approach to Evidence-Based Prosecution of DV Cases at the Granular Level - Kimberly Orts, Laura Gorman

Kimberly Orts, Laura Gorman

Without consequences and offender accountability, it is well-established that DV abuse repeats and escalates. Successful intervention through prosecution relies on a high-quality investigation. However, when law enforcement officers are unaware of how or what evidence can be used in the courtroom, they cannot produce the effective, quality investigations necessary for change through prosecution. To enhance these investigations, multi-disciplinary teams, to include collaboration between prosecutors and investigators at a granular level, are crucial and are now recognized as an invaluable tool in the fight to end DV abuse. This workshop will define what investigator and prosecutor collaboration is at a granular level, showcase its benefits through brief case studies, provide examples for how this collaborative system works, provide strategies to create collaborative relationships between law enforcement and prosecutors, and why this collaboration is vital to fighting to end DV.

Communication is Key! Working for Victims with Disabilities or for Those Who Do Not Speak - Kate Homan

Kate Homan

Victims and survivors face many barriers to services, protection, and justice. Those barriers are further complicated when the victim has a disability and their unique needs are overlooked, minimized, or mishandled. Additionally, as a part of the trauma for many survivors is the feeling as if they don’t have a voice or feel as if they are not being heard. This could apply to victims with disabilities but what about those who are considered non-verbal? Who is speaking on their behalf to ensure that they are being properly advocated for? This workshop will explore biases and assumptions related to investigating cases involving victims or witnesses with disabilities, abuse dynamics, possible indicators of abuse or neglect, communication considerations, question types, and eliciting reliable information from individuals with disabilities. Reliable and legally defensible techniques as well as how to communicate with individuals who are considered “non-verbal” will also be examined.

Compassionate Death Notifications: Making a Real Difference in a Time of Need - Russell Strand

Russell Strand

Over 3 million people die in the U.S. each year. Criminal justice professionals and allies are often on the front line of delivering life-changing devastating news to loved ones whose lives will forever be affected. Compassion is the key to making an authentic human connection in times seemingly devoid of humanity. Receiving information of the death of a loved one is traumatic for most, but if delivered with humanity and compassion, the impact can be mitigated and trauma lessened. Unfortunately, death notification training and education is not standard in many professional courses – professionals are often left to struggle through on their own. This workshop will explore the challenges and promising best practices of conducting effective and compassionate notifications. The presenter will offer guidance, practical knowledge, and information to enable professionals to be prepared and confident to approach the most difficult aspect of the work officers do. 

CASE STUDY: Cortez Hill: Serial Rapist or Serial Murderer? - Patrick Moug

Patrick Moug

Between September 2008 and April 2009 five women were heinously attacked and sexually assaulted within a two-mile radius of each other on Detroit’s east side. The assailant’s methodology was extremely brutal and senseless including shooting, stabbing, and dousing gasoline on his victims. He used a finger print-like scheme in his attacks and ten years later three of his victims share an eerily similar scar on their throats.  For a decade these cases went cold until May 2019 when Cortez Hill was arrested for illegally carrying a handgun. The DNA buccal swab taken during his booking would eventually connect him to these five rapes. This case study will reveal lessons learned from dealing with a violent sexual predator and the steps taken to gain justice for multiple victims. Additionally, the actions taken to guarantee that the victims, who while grouped together by a single assailant, were treated as individuals will be discussed.

A Course of Exploitation: The Intersection of Stalking & Sex Trafficking - Jennifer Dolle

Jennifer Dolle

When offenders engage in a course of conduct like sexual exploitation, they perpetrate dangerous and often misidentified and misunderstood crimes, including stalking and sex trafficking.  Both crimes are highly contextual in nature and require a nuanced analysis of the relationship between the offender and the victim, as well as the various tactics utilized by abusers to control, intimidate, and traumatize victims with impunity. Stalking is used to force or coerce individuals to engage in commercial sexual activities, intimidate, or prevent them from engaging with the criminal justice system.  The presenters will explore the dynamics of stalking and sex trafficking and will focus on the importance of understanding the context in which both crimes occur and the common tactics used by perpetrators. Strategies to improve the identification of these “course of conduct” crimes, increase offender accountability through successful investigations and prosecutions, and minimize further harm to victims and survivors will also be discussed.

Court-Ordered Firearm Restrictions in DV Cases - Alicia Nichols, Monica Player, Julia Weber

Alicia Nichols, Monica Player, Julia Weber

Research reveals that when women are killed by their intimate partner, a majority of those deaths involve a firearm. Additionally, studies show that when a firearm is present in an abusive home, the lethality risk significantly increases for the victim. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws allowing family members, household members, law enforcement, and/or others to petition a court to temporarily prohibit an individual from possessing firearms. Although most extreme risk laws are structured similarly to Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPO), they serve distinctly different purposes. All disciplines working with victims of DV must understand the differences between DVPOs and ERPOs to enhance survivor safety. The presenters will discuss the differences between these court-ordered firearm restrictions and share strategies to remove firearms from DV offenders while enhancing victim safety.

Creating Trauma-Informed Care Practices to Protect from Toxic Work Culture - Melissa Harrison

Melissa Harrison

When working in the gender-based violence world of helping victims and survivors obtain services, remain safe, and embrace healing, it can take an emotional and psychological toll on the practitioner and lead to secondary trauma. This workshop will provide an overview of the stages of trauma-informed care for both the victim and the organization as a whole. The presenter will clarify the differences in vicarious trauma, burnout, and moral injury that comes from working in a toxic work environment. Additionally, the presenter will share different ways that employees can strengthen their work environment, strengthen relationships with coworkers and supervisors, and create positive habits around work life and home life in order to create a happier and healthier employee.

SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Cybersecurity Awareness: Who’s in My Inbox? - John Trenary

John Trenary

Ding! Notification: New Email. Who is that really from though? Are those links safe to click? How can I find the true sender? These are all questions we ask ourselves daily with the frequency of phishing and scams. This hands-on computer lab will show you resources to query email addresses, phone numbers, and other information to distinguish true from phishing emails. We will also show you resources to protect yourself both personally and in your organization from viruses and malware. This computer lab can benefit you personally, as well as help you collect resources to give similar presentations to your victims and in your communities.   

Damned if You Do, Damned if You Don't: How Family Courts Punish DV Survivors - Rachel Elkin

Rachel Elkin

Survivors of domestic violence are told that the only way to eradicate the scourge of violence is to speak truth to power and to tell their story. But often survivors find themselves caught in between an unimaginable quagmire: being punished for speaking out and punished for not speaking out sooner. But what the survivor doesn’t know is that this now means they can never bring up the past abuse again, even as the abuser continues his onslaught against her and the children and she finds herself inevitably back in court. This workshop will explore how the family court system pressures survivors into a “use it or lose it” ultimatum, where they have to choose between costly and prolonged litigation to prove their claims of abuse, or quick settlements (at the recommendation of their private attorney) with a custody order that never mentions the abuse.

SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Darknet Fundamentals - Timothy Lott

Timothy Lott

As the debate over digital privacy rages in the media and the Courts, many who utilize technology have found ways to obscure their online activity. These also include people who wish to commit criminal offenses. While The Onion Router (TOR) network has some noble ideals, it is often used as a bastion where offenders can operate in the open with little fear of law enforcement interdiction. This hands-on computer lab will introduce attendees to the terminology employed in anonymized browsing, how to access the TOR network and gain a firmer understanding of the challenges of investigating crimes on the Darknet.   

*Restricted to Law Enforcement & Prosecutors* SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Data in Data: Finding File Metadata & Using it in Investigations - John Trenary

John Trenary

An anonymous threatening word document is sent to your victim. What data is there to help you identify the sender? Metadata, or data about data, is contained in many common files including Office files and images. This hands-on computer lab will show you how to use office applications and other third-party tools to find this data and see the author, time for editing, and potentially even the latitude and longitude of where a photo was taken.   

The Deadliest Calls: What Are We Doing to Prevent the Killing of Our First Responders? - Mark Wynn

Mark Wynn

Law enforcement officers engage in dangerous encounters when enforcing the law or protecting and serving the public. Unfortunately, while officers respond to domestic disturbances, the lethality risks for them increases significantly. Notably, 2022 was one of the most deadly years for officers and deputies responding to incidents of domestic and sexual violence. This workshop will examine the officer safety considerations that arise when responding to a domestic violence call. In addition, the presenter will discuss the complexities and challenges facing officers when interacting with offenders, victims, and witnesses at the scene of a domestic violence incident. Additionally, the presenter will explore research and case studies to demonstrate the possible dangers of responding to the call. Steps for safely managing on-scene investigations of the domestic violence calls will also be discussed.

CASE STUDY: Death & Survival: The Murder of Jonathan Amerault - Scott Hampton

Scott Hampton

Armando and Brittany Baron were both there when Jonathan Amerault died. But who was responsible for the murder? Brittany had a gun, a machete and a saw. But was she a perpetrator, victim, witness or a co-conspirator who helped to conceal a crime? What would you have done if you were in her place?  The case involved multidimensional abuse including several tactics and layers of involvement spanning hundreds of miles of crime scenes and lasting several days. This case study will examine the tactics of abusers and the pressures that are brought to bear on abuse victims by both the abusers and the system trying to bring those abusers to justice.

Diffusing Deadly Possibilities: Domestic Violence High Risk Team Model - Kelly Dunne

Kelly Dunne

Numerous studies reveal that offenders who fall into the category of high risk abusers have a much higher likelihood that their abuse will turn lethal. To address these serious concerns, the Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT) Model was developed and is now a nationally recognized domestic violence homicide prevention framework, identified by the DoJ, Office on Violence Against Women as a “leading promising practice in the field.” The DVHRT Model consists of four core components: 1) early identification of the most dangerous cases through evidence-based risk assessment; 2) increased access to supportive services for high-risk victims; 3) increased offender monitoring and accountability and 4) a coordinated response to high-risk cases through a multidisciplinary team.  With a goal of preventing intimate partner homicides (IPH) and near-lethal assaults, the Model has been successfully replicated in a variety of jurisdictions across the country, effectively impacting their responses to IPH prevention.

Dismantling the Pipeline from Child Sexual Abuse to Incarceration - Chelsea Davis

Chelsea Davis

Why does the victimization of some victims who have experienced childhood and adolescent sexual abuse later become an entry point into a punitive cycle rather than an entry point into healing and restorative care; a predictor of entry into the criminal justice system for young women? This lunch session will explore shortcomings in community responses to sexual victimization of girls and women, particularly how these shortcomings put victims at risk for further harm and trauma. This presenter will discuss strategies for trauma-informed responses to sexual victimization – with an emphasis on practical steps for participants while also presenting an outline of trauma-informed approaches across the nation. 

CASE STUDY: Domestic Violence Homicide: The Ultimate Evidence-Based Prosecution - Shannon Archer, Joshua Akers

Shannon Archer, Joshua Akers

There are many reasons why crime victims cannot testify against their offender. Often times, accountability in the criminal justice system is organized around a survivor’s testimony  in court. Professionals may understand the reasons why crime victims do not want to testify in court, but to what extent are law enforcement officers and prosecutors mandated victim cooperation in order to seek justice? This case study will explore a domestic violence (DV) homicide that went to trial in 2021. The presenters will describe the investigation, autopsy and prosecution to include discussion about the surviving witness who could testify in court. The presenters will also offer tips, suggestions, and tools when investigating DV and preparing for an evidence-based prosecution. The case study will also touch on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Crawford v. Washington where potential arguments for DV cases can be explored.

Domestic Violence in South Asian & Muslim Communities - Heena Khan

Heena Khan

This workshop is designed to discuss the acculturation and cultural dynamics that are important to understand when providing services to South Asian victims and families. The presenter will share her unique counseling experience and educate attendees on how to attune themselves to the unique needs of South Asian and Muslim survivors and how to work effectively, utilizing trauma-informed and culturally competent practices while working with this particular population.

Double-Edged Sword: Identifying & Addressing Dual Arrest Cases & Victim Defendants - Meli Powers, Grant Bryan

Meli Powers, Grant Bryan

Law enforcement agencies are incredibly effective at responding to and investigating intimate partner violence (IPV) situations. But with mandated arrest policies, lack of resources and training, and incomplete investigations, dual arrests and cross-filed cases can result. This can be unjust and even dangerous to victims. Identifying signs of IPV and determining true aggressors is required for successful investigations of IPV, offender accountability, and the prevention of future violence. Failure to make these determinations results in devastating consequences such as arresting and further traumatizing victims, jeopardizing prosecution, and failing to hold abusers accountable. This workshop will explore best practices for law enforcement and prosecutors when handling primary aggressor issues as well as cases with victims as defendants.

Educating Jurors & Uncovering Inherent Biases During Voir Dire - Kathryn Marsh

Kathryn Marsh

Criminal trials can be won or lost during the voir dire process with questions asked serving as powerful tools to educate potential jurors about gender-based crimes, as well as helping prosecutors uncover hidden or inherent biases about gender-based crimes that could impact an ultimate finding of guilt.  Throughout this workshop, the presenters will review questions that can effectively educate jurors about gender-based crimes, prior to opening statements.  In addition, the presenters will examine questions that can uncover the hidden or inherent biases jurors may have about gender-based crimes. The review of a series of appellate decisions from around the country and the federal system where voir dire was done incorrectly, and convictions were overturned will also be discussed.

Effective Domestic Violence Response: Why Changing Mindsets Improves Victim Safety - John Guard

John Guard

As practitioners work diligently to implement or improve their trauma-informed responses and victim-centered services, it is also important to shine a light on the psychological motivations of the offenders that abuse them. This workshop will begin by focusing on the dynamics of domestic violence (DV) and will provide an inside look at the dynamics that are occurring within relationships where DV is present. The presenter will share a special focus on offender dynamics along with investigative tips to ensure the offenders’ “private face” is exposed. Furthermore, the presenter will provide techniques that law enforcement officers and service providers can use to increase victim safety and offender accountability. The impact of the Crawford v. Washington Case will be discussed along with how to utilize the Forfeiture by Wrongdoing doctrine to overcome this case as well as techniques for conducting a post-arrest investigation.

Elder Abuse: Enhancing Approaches to Address the Intersections of Abuse in Later Life - Martie Washington, Victoria Ferguson-Young

Martie Washington, Victoria Ferguson-Young

One in ten adults aged 60+ has experienced one or more forms of abuse at the hands of someone they know whether it be physical or sexual assault, neglect, or financial exploitation. How older adults experience abuse is often impacted by that person’s culture, background, and identity. Factors such as ageism, family dynamics, health concerns, culture, identity, and financial constraints can impact an older victim’s access to support and services. Crimes against vulnerable adults can be devastating, often leaving victims more vulnerable than prior to their victimization. Yet, oftentimes communities struggle to effectively identify and respond to abuse in later life due to factors such as lack of understanding of the intersections of abuse, and the context of that person’s life, or lack of coordination across systems and disciplines. This workshop will explore the unique challenges survivors face and opportunities for adapting services and community collaboration in response to abuse in later life.

Exploring Foundations of a Tribal SART - Victoria Ybanez, Elizabeth Rice

Victoria Ybanez, Elizabeth Rice

Sexual violence affects many aspects of a victim’s life including safety and health, family and work situations, and finances and often leads to perplexing legal questions. To receive basic assistance, victims often must navigate a complicated maze of Tribal and Federal governmental and community agencies. While a Tribal sexual assault response team (SART) has similarities to a SART outside of a tribe, there are unique differences that are critical to understand so that Tribes can establish a SART that is fully responsive to the Tribal community. This workshop will provide an overview of a Tribal SART and its challenges, key activities, and critical partners within a Tribal SART.

SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Facebook Searching & Saving - Lauren Wagner

Lauren Wagner

Facebook rolled out “New Facebook” in 2020. With this new interface comes new investigative challenges on how to on how to complete investigative techniques. With these changes the methods for finding a Facebook ID number, and searching within a profile have changed. This hands-on computer lab will address searching techniques that can be found on “New Facebook”, as well as cover some of the oldies but goodies! 

Faith community: Spoke or Nail in the Community Coordinated Response Wheel? - Ronald Clark

Ronald Clark

Faith and spirituality provide a natural support for families affected by intimate partner violence. However, they can often become a “unique culture” which hinders family members from healing. This workshop will provide strategies to implement outside intervention through teaching, training, and preparing future leaders, while discussing opportunities to enhance the support that faith and spiritual communities can provide to victims and survivors. In this workshop the use of case studies, discussion of key faith/spiritual themes from conservative and Evangelical Christian communities, and stories from faith community IPV survivors will provide an opportunity for attendees to understand the culture that many of their clients face in embracing their faith while accepting help and healing from their advocates and support groups.

Familial Trafficking in America - Study Summary & Survivor Implications - Jeannie Allert

Jeannie Allert

In 2021, the Institute for Shelter Care conducted a national study to examine the prevalence, characteristics, and challenges associated with the commercial sexual exploitation of minors where the exploiter is a family member to the victim. Over 3,500 cases of child exploitation across 24 states were represented in the study. The presenter will lay the foundation for understanding familial sex trafficking or when a child is commercially sexually exploited by a family member, explore how familial trafficking relates to, but is distinct from incest, and briefly explain how laws help or hurt our identification of this type of trafficking. A summary of the limited body of knowledge on the profile of victim and perpetrator(s) and an exploration of the relational dynamics between the child and familial trafficker as these cases traverse the phases of identification, investigation, prosecution, and victim services will also be discussed.

Financial Abuse: The Cost of Control - Ruth Guerreiro

Ruth Guerreiro

Studies show that financial abuse happens in 94-99% of abusive intimate partner relationships, yet, it is the least understood form of abuse. This workshop will identify the numerous tactics that fall into five main categories of financial abuse including coerced debt and financial fraud. The presenter will discuss the many ways financial abuse impacts a woman while she is in the abusive relationship as well as the long-lasting effects it can have after leaving the abusive relationship. The presenter will also explore ways advocates, attorneys, and other professionals can help support a survivor of financial abuse.

First Line Supervisors Response to Violence Against Women - Mark Wynn

Mark Wynn

Supervisors have the opportunity to greatly impact those they supervise and are responsible for creating and maintaining an environment that supports learning and growth for officers as well as treat victims with respect. This workshop will highlight effective ways to engage the first responder to address violence against women. The presenter will explore methods of empowering and strengthening officers, share strategies on how to create innovative employee incentives and rewards, and discuss motivating techniques as well as skills to mentor others on violence against women crimes.

The Forgotten Victims: A Deep Dive Into The Impacts of DV on Children & the Family System - Julie Wakeman

Julie Wakeman

One in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) each year. When responding to an IPV victim, it is often the primary victim that receives intervention and support. Later, the children living in the abuse may be identified as secondary victims in need of services. However, when children present with symptoms, it can disrupt how they function in their school, home, and peer environments. This workshop will provide relevant insight into the complex ways a family system can be disrupted and the impacts and experiences of children exposed to IPV in the home. Additionally, complicating factors such as custody/divorce and cultural consideration will be discussed. The presenter will provide tools for working with children and families in the clinical setting, including case examples and opportunities to practice interventions and develop ideas around creating individualized safety plans for children and their families.

From Darkness to Light: Using Data to Protect Freedom & Dignity - Becky Austen, Tally Jorn, John Nehme

Becky Austen, Tally Jorn, John Nehme

Trafficking is a critical issue across our country with an estimated 79,000 youth as victims of human trafficking in Texas. While we know trafficking disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, very few are identified, even when the vast majority interact with a professional that could have helped them during their exploitation. While awareness of the issue has increased, leaders have not had concrete data to highlight the prevalence of trafficking in their state, and professionals working with vulnerable populations haven’t had the data to understand the risk factors. Allies Against Slavery, in partnership with the Offices of the Governor in Texas and Louisiana, is harnessing data and technology to prevent exploitation at scale. This workshop will describe how Lighthouse, an innovative software platform, enables professionals to identify victims of trafficking, coordinate their care, gain insights from the data, and make data-informed decisions about policies, programs and outcomes.

From Numbers to Practice: Evidenced-Based Family Violence Response - Carolyn Brooks, Kylee Elliot

Carolyn Brooks, Kylee Elliot

Domestic violence-related fatalities and murder-suicides decimate families and communities, shattering the equilibrium that once held them secure. In response, the Georgia Commission on Family Violence (GCFV) conducted qualitative and quantitative research on domestic violence-related fatalities to prevent, intervene, and respond to family violence. Through in-depth reviews of fatal incidents, the homicide-suicide connection in family violence cases was revealed, with further data analysis revealing a dramatic increase in domestic violence-related murder-suicides in recent years in Georgia, mirroring similar trends nationwide. This workshop will describe how GCFV launched intervention and protocol training for communities and established a network of trained mental health clinicians to provide individual and group therapy for surviving family members. Strategies on how using data allows communities to respond and recover from the tragedy of domestic violence-related fatalities and murder-suicides will also be discussed.

Getting Down to Business: The Importance of Employers as Part of the Community Response to Intimate Partner Violence - Mary Onufer, Elizabeth Lewis

Mary Onufer, Elizabeth Lewis

As survivors work to regain control over their lives, as employees, they face the difficult task of moving forward while managing their existing trauma. Since 2009, STANDING FIRM has been building a business case for change by working with non-profit and for-profit businesses to plan and execute an organizational response for employees dealing with intimate partner violence (IPV). The presenter will discuss how employers can develop equitable policies and processes that are victim-centered and provide the opportunity for job security and crucial financial stability. The presenter will also discuss how employers can protect the workplace from violence related to IPV and improve productivity and worker health by addressing IPV as a workforce issue. Assessing organizations to determine gaps in current culture, policies and processes, how to tailor a plan to address those gaps, and an overview of the SF Roadmap will also be reviewed.   

CASE STUDY: Getting Past the Storefront: Investigating & Prosecuting Illicit Massage Businesses & Criminal Enterprises - Lara Mullin, Brandi Thomas

Lara Mullin, Brandi Thomas

Illicit massage businesses exist all over the country but have been challenging for law enforcement to identify and meaningfully . The intentional lack of transparency about ownership and management of the businesses historically led to enforcement action against the sellers of sex and a “whack a mole” approach. This ineffective approach criminalized and alienated those who were being exploited (the workers). Members of the Denver law enforcement community worked for years to “pull back the curtain” to see who was behind these workers through long term surveillance, creative investigative tactics, and the use of the grand jury subpoena power. The presenters will explore how to build successful racketeering, money laundering, and human trafficking cases against defendants who are running networks of illicit massage businesses as part of a larger criminal organization. This case study will provide details about how these cases were investigated, built, and prosecuted.

CASE STUDY: GPS Trackers: The Silent Stalker - Amanda Paris, Kristen Sanders

Amanda Paris, Kristen Sanders

The development of new technology has grown exponentially, providing assistance to everyday life. However, what happens when this technology is utilized for fear and control? The use of technology, like GPS trackers, make it easier to commit the crime of stalking. This case study will describe how a victim was stalked by her abuser since 2017 by using GPS devices and other means to instill fear. The presenters will break down the relationship of technology, pop culture, and social media within stalking and explain lessons learned, best practices, and development in protocols. Additionally, the presenters will touch on stalking investigations, the dynamics of locating GPS devices, and how to successfully bring evidentiary items to court. How law enforcement-based victim services can work closely with the victims from the onset of the crimes through the court process, and illustrating the importance of a team-based investigation will also be discussed.

CASE STUDY: GSK & Beyond: Using Genetic Genealogy to Bring Closure to All Sexual Assault Victims (Pt. 1 & 2) - Anne Marie Schubert, Gay Hardwick, Micki Links, Kris Pedretti

Anne Marie Schubert, Gay Hardwick, Micki Links, Kris Pedretti

Genetic Genealogy (GG) is the most powerful forensic tool since the fingerprint. In a justice system that still depends on 30-year-old technologies that deliver results less than 50% of the time, GG has the power to solve most, if not all cases. Over the recent years GG has been used to solve more than 500 unsolvable violent crimes, identify the unidentified, and exonerate the innocent. Nowhere has its power been more apparent than identifying Joseph DeAngelo, an ex-cop, as the Golden State Killer or exonerating Ricky Davis for a crime he did not commit. The presenters of this case study who led the investigation and prosecution of the Golden State Killer will demonstrate the long-term impact of sexual assault on victims, the criminal justice system, and society. The presenters will also discuss their experience with the Golden State Killer case, the impact of GG on case closure, and healing through trauma.

Hand in Hand: When Law Enforcement & Advocates Come Together to Serve - Denise Jones, Lauren Dennis

Denise Jones, Lauren Dennis

While law enforcement and advocacy often have different perspectives, both professions offer distinct services for victims of crime. Working together, advocates and law enforcement serve as a cooperative team for victims of intimate partner crimes. The presenters will address how to better understand the needs of victims, the benefits of working together with victims, and how to work these cases without victim participation. The presenters will also share strategies on how to cohesively communicate with each other in order to better understand the roles and limitations of each professional. This workshop will additionally discuss the impact of trauma, and includes the value of trauma-informed responses from both law enforcement and advocacy in IPV cases.

SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Handheld Evidence: Seizure of Mobile Devices & Understanding Forensic Reports/Handheld Evidence: Manipulating Report Data Using Excel & Cloud Considerations (Pt. 1 & 2) - John Trenary

John Trenary

This two-part, hands-on computer lab will introduce attendees to cellular devices and discuss the many impacts that mobile devices have on investigations. In part 1, attendees will learn the basic terminology and a cadre of resources that can be used during a mobile device data recovery. Considerations for mobile device seizure will be discussed in depth. Attendees will be introduced to various tools that are available for mobile device data recovery, and go through forensics reports to understand the artifacts of importance that can be used for a case. In part 2, attendees will take a cell phone forensic report and use Excel to parse through the data in a more logical and timely manner. Additionally, the presenter will examine the unique concerns of cloud computing and the impact in investigations. 

CASE STUDY: Hiding Behind the System: The State of Texas vs. Reginald Kimbro - Allenna Bangs, Tracy Matheson

Allenna Bangs, Tracy Matheson

Reginald Kimbro a serial rapist and murderer, was investigated in connection with several crimes against women and due to failings in the system was never prosecuted for his crimes.  In 2017, Kimbro committed capital murders of two Texas women, Molly Matheson and Megan Getrum.  After five years of trial preparation and investigation, eight sexual assault victims had been identified.  In 2022, Kimbro was sentenced to life without parole in two homicides, life for an aggravated sexual assault, and the maximum sentence for three additional sexual assault cases in a negotiation that involved four counties and multiple cities across the State of Texas. The years long investigation into Kimbro highlighted the cracks in the system that led to his ability to continue to victimize innocent individuals.  Some of those systems have been improved, some are still behind.

Higher Learning: Combatting Sexual Violence through Title IX Investigations - Brikitta Hairston

Brikitta Hairston

Victimology is the study of victims of crimes and the subsequent psychological impacts of their victimizing experiences. On school campuses, a report of a gender-based crime can prompt a Title IX investigation that examines the allegations to determine if a policy has been violated. Within the Title IX field, there are many untrained individuals that interact with victims or complainants undergoing trauma. The intersection of victimology and Title IX investigations is found in the need to understand what crime occurred, why, and how to prevent the crime from occurring in the future. This workshop will explain the concept of victimology and its relation to Title IX investigation regulations. The presenter will share how investigators and Title IX coordinators can identify risk factors and conduct interviews that are equitable for both parties. The impact of trauma and sexual violence and the tools to build preventative programs will also be discussed.

Hitting the Target: Domestic Abuse Response Team (D.A.R.T.): An Innovative Coordinated Community Response to Combat Domestic Violence - Carvana Cloud, Julie Pleasant

Carvana Cloud, Julie Pleasant

As victims and survivors are the focal point of violence for an offender, the Domestic Abuse Response Team (D.A.R.T.) America has placed a bullseye on the back of abusers by targeting their efforts toward victim advocacy. By engaging criminal justice, healthcare, and social service systems, D.A.R.T. prioritizes victim safety by facilitating survivors’ access to resources needed to escape the cycle of violence, enhancing offender accountability through evidence-based prosecution, and collaborating with non-profit community partners for sustainable survivor empowerment.  This workshop will highlight the creation, design, and implementation of D.A.R.T. America, a coordinated community response designed to facilitate offender accountability and survivor safety in an effort to reduce domestic violence (DV) and to prevent DV-related homicides.  The presenters will illustrate the benefits of establishing a multidisciplinary crisis response to decrease the likelihood of re-victimization and escalating violence that often precedes intimate partner homicide.

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades: When Close Doesn't Cut it With Expectations for Closure - Tara Bjornson, Jill McDonald

Tara Bjornson, Jill McDonald

For victims seeking justice and holding offenders accountable, emotional closure doesn’t occur when the court process is finished and the jail door slams shut. Sometimes there is no jail door and the offender walks about without consequence. This workshop will illustrate the ways in which victims can navigate the emotional highs and lows that come with working through the criminal justice system. Techniques on how to assist victims through the process of recovering from trauma while they simultaneously experience the cold realities of the justice system will also be highlighted.

How Media Portrayal of Interpersonal Violence Impacts Case Investigation, Litigation, & Survivor Care - Wendy Patrick

Wendy Patrick

The pop culture within television, movies, and social media has an expansive influence over society that oftentimes perpetuates victim-blaming, rape culture, and toxic masculinity. This workshop will explore how media and Hollywood-inspired depictions and portrayals of domestic and sexual violence impacts case investigation and prosecution, trauma-informed victim care, and decision-making by judges and juries. The presenter will discuss ways investigators, lawyers, and victim witness providers can counteract inaccurate or unrealistic media portrayals of victims of interpersonal violence through the use of training programs, survivor stories, voir dire questions, expert witnesses, and more.  The workshop will also address ways to discuss the problem of interpersonal violence within law enforcement groups and community partnerships that is trauma-informed, acknowledging the impact media coverage has on offenders, survivors, and triers of fact.

How to Work Aquatic Crimes Against Women Staged as Noncriminal Bathtub Deaths - Andrea Zaferes, Butch Hendrick

Andrea Zaferes, Butch Hendrick

Aquatic Crimes Against Women (ACAW) are often staged as noncriminal bathtub deaths. In this interactive workshop, attendees will work a bathtub homicide case as a patrol officer, detective, CSI, or death investigator and learn how to document the victim’s body, collect critical scene evidence, and report party evidence. Skills will include photographing wet/damp evidence, interviewing suspects of ACAW, identifying important injury and postmortem physiology artifacts, and applying a practical investigative framework with a bathtub case investigation form that attendees can bring to their departments. Attendees will also interact with and interview the reporting-party husband to document important circumstantial evidence. Additionally, a circumstantial evidence homicide Senior State’s Attorney will teach attendees the legal pitfalls to avoid and proven ways to approach and work the scene for the most just jurisprudence outcome. The presenters will show the scene and case through the eyes of a prosecutor, judge, and jury.

SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: #howdoitsearchthat: Instagram Investigations - Lauren Wagner

Lauren Wagner

With 95 million photos being shared daily, Instagram is a major player in the social networking world. Participants will be shown 3 ways to search Instagram: using the Instagram search engine on the web, searching Instagram through Google advanced and Boolean operators, and also be introduced to third-party resources that can be used to search Instagram all without having an Instagram account. Instagram searching for profiles, keywords, hashtags, and geographical information will all be covered in this hands-on computer lab. Also, techniques to search Instagram through the mobile app using an Android emulator will be discussed, as well as ways to save data from the web. 

Human Trafficking and Older Adults - Leigha Shoup, Adonna Wilson-Banney, Katherine Yoder

Leigha Shoup, Adonna Wilson-Banney, Katherine Yoder

The prevalence and impacts of human trafficking on older adults are unresearched and therefore unknown, making it impossible to quantify just how much the systems that should be providing safety and justice for older adult survivors are failing. This workshop  focuses on the largely unrecognized tragedy of the trafficking of older adults for sex, labor, or benefits and will discuss what is known about the trafficking of older adults, barriers to reporting these crimes, and supporting survivors. The presenter will also offer suggestions for strengthening the social safety net and criminal justice processes, whose role is to keep older adults safe.

Human Trafficking in Dallas County - Charcenee Jackson

Charcenee Jackson

Human trafficking is a large-scale problem in both urban and rural areas, however, in big cities, there are more opportunities for traffickers to recruit and therefore, a greater pool of victims. Survivors of human trafficking face huge barriers to, not only healing, but to resources and services along the way as well as from the police and court officials. This workshop will draw references from a human trafficking case that occurred in Dallas County and share techniques on how to engage with human trafficking victims. The presenter will also explore the ways in which professionals can navigate the complex trauma that human trafficking victims face to include obstacles within law enforcement and legal systems.

“I Can’t Breathe”: The Physiology of Respiration & Asphyxiation of Strangled Victims - Andrea Zaferes, Allyson Cordoni

Andrea Zaferes, Allyson Cordoni

Asphyxiation, such as drowning, strangulation, and suffocation is a common cause of injury, abuse, noncriminal death, and homicide. Asphyxiation affects various populations, including sex and work-trafficked victims, those with physical challenges, victims of domestic violence, patients with particular illnesses/addictions, autoerotic or BDSM practitioners, etc. Asphyxiation typically involves a diagnosis of exclusion and relies heavily on circumstances to determine if asphyxiation occurred and if foul play may be involved. Lack of knowledge and insufficient investigations allow the perpetuation of asphyxiation misconceptions that facilitate the rough sex defense, cause and manner of death misdiagnoses, high risk behavior, missed criminal cases, and lack of appropriate medical care for victims. This workshop begins with a foundation of normal respiration physiology, followed by mechanisms, signs/symptoms, and pathophysiology of the 10 most common types of fatal and nonfatal asphyxiation. The presenters will also review research on asphyxiation accidents, hanging autoerotic, and suicide deaths.

Identifying & Responding to Stalking on College Campuses - Jennifer Landhuis

Jennifer Landhuis

Stalking is a prevalent, dangerous and often misunderstood crime and individuals ages 18-24 experience the highest rate of stalking. College campuses are not exempt from this form of abuse due to  college students’ close-knit social networks, high reliance on digital devices, and lack of knowledge about the definition of stalking. This workshop explores the dynamics of stalking, focusing on the highly contextual nature of the crime by discussing common tactics used by perpetrators, stalking’s co-occurrence with domestic and sexual violence, the use of risk assessments in stalking cases, the use of technology to stalk, investigation strategies, as well as tools to plan for victim safety and increase offender accountability.

If it’s Predictable, It’s Preventable: The Danger Assessment For Law Enforcement - Kelly Dunne

Kelly Dunne

Research has shown that the escalation of domestic violence to a lethal level follows an identifiable pattern with identifiable indicators.  This workshop will provide an overview of the Danger Assessment for Law Enforcement (DA-LE) which is an 11 question, evidence-based risk assessment instrument that identifies victims at the highest risk of intimate partner homicide (IPH) and near-lethal assault. The DA-LE was designed to supplement the police report, be useful to the court, and has a built-in cutoff score that screens in approximately 30% of cases into the high-risk category. High-risk victims are immediately connected to services and the DA-LE is provided to the court to inform criminal proceedings. The DA-LE instrument helps decision-makers focus on the most dangerous cases and helps to identify a manageable volume of cases for intensive risk management when used within the context of Domestic Violence High Risk Teams (DVHRT).

CASE STUDY: “I Just Killed My Dad”: The Challenges of Protecting Children Raised During Post Separation Custody Battles - Maisha Colter, Janet Heppard, Barbara Stalder

Maisha Colter, Janet Heppard, Barbara Stalder

After years of domestic abuse by her common-law husband (the Respondent), in 2007, “TT” retained counsel with Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse and an application for Protective Order and Divorce was filed on her behalf.  The minor son of “TT” was included in the protective order as an applicant. The court also issued an ex-parte temporary protective order for “TT” and her son upon review of the affidavit she submitted with her application where “TT” and her son were hiding from the Respondent in Texas. In 2019, “TT” was contacted by an attorney in Louisiana, who advised her that her son killed his father and was charged with murder.  The presenters will discuss the details of the case, which later became a Netflix docuseries, and discuss legal ramifications and lessons learned when working on DV cases across multiple jurisdictions that involve children with protective orders in place.

Imprints on a Tiny Heart: How Advocates Can Impact the Lives of Children & Youth in Tribal Communities - Amber Warman

Amber Warman

While advocates work closely with survivors and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, often times, children and youth are seen as secondary victims in these situations. Growing up Indigenous already has its own set of challenges. Being left without resources and support makes matters worse, causing further suffering. What are some of the challenges that Indigenous children face and how can advocates better support them in tribal communities? This workshop will highlight the resiliency and strength of native people and how finding support from allies around the nation by sharing common goals of restoring the balance of family and healthy healing to Indigenous families. Additionally, the presenter will explore ways to establish collaborations and discover solutions to these issues in an effort to support young relatives in a positive way moving forward.

In It Together! Ten Key Lessons Police Can Learn from Advocates - Kristin Daley, Kenneth Smith

Kristin Daley, Kenneth Smith

In working with survivors of sexual violence, police who partner with advocates to learn empathetic engagement techniques are ahead of the curve. By ensuring that they are fully hearing the survivor’s experience, communicating that they understand and respect their needs, and developing a relationship of trust and support, law enforcement can conduct better interviews and investigations and reach a more empathetic resolution for survivors. Police officers on the ground interacting with the public and investigating crimes can provide valuable insight into the department’s needs. This workshop will provide strategies on how to make interviews and investigations more trauma-informed and survivor-centered, develop innovative practices for policing, prioritize officer wellbeing within their departments, interact with bystanders and concerned citizens using a more empathetic approach, and ultimately strengthen both the department and the community it serves.

An Interprofessional Taskforce on Interpersonal Violence Education on College Campuses - Karla Arenas-Itotia, Tracy Orwig, Jennifer Roye, Rachel Voth Schrag

Karla Arenas-Itotia, Tracy Orwig, Jennifer Roye, Rachel Voth Schrag

A multitude of variables exist that contribute to why interpersonal and intimate partner violence occurs at a high rate on college campuses across the country. Studies reveal that one of the prevailing reasons why IPV is so prevalent amongst students is because it is not reported either due to lack of knowledge about what an IPV relationship actually is or fear of reporting IPV to school officials. The University of Texas at Arlington is addressing these concerns with the development and implementation of the Interpersonal Violence Education Taskforce (IPVE) Taskforce which is interdisciplinary and focused on creating experiential learning activities related to issues of interpersonal violence for students across disciplines. This workshop will provide an overview of the IPVE Taskforce and describe its activities to raise awareness, increase survivor empathy, improve bystander efficacy, and develop professional skills that lead to trauma-informed practices and safer outcomes for survivors.

The Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence & Firearm Violence - Meli Powers, Grant Bryan

Meli Powers, Grant Bryan

Firearm violence, mass shootings, and violence towards law enforcement are all types of violence often perpetrated by offenders with a history of intimate partner violence (IPV). The links between IPV and other violent crimes are evident. Additionally, while gun violence takes many forms, there is a clear link to IPV. This workshop will highlight the role that IPV plays in these arenas which can assist practitioners in working towards the prevention of future violence in communities and protecting first responders that handle domestic violence calls.

It's All in the Technique: Enhancing Law Enforcement Interviews - Mike Gooding

Mike Gooding

Traditional law enforcement interviewing techniques often do very little to enhance recall and the accuracy and detail of information obtained from victims and witnesses during criminal investigations. This workshop will focus on more effective ways to conduct those interviews using templates and scientifically validated principles from cognitive and motivational interviewing techniques. Additionally, topics such as preparation, location, environment and style for effective and detailed information gathering will be discussed.

It's in the Details: Documenting the DV Investigation & Why What is Written Matters - Kimberly Orts

Kimberly Orts

Crimes involving intimate partners are not only some of the most complex to investigate, but also the most difficult to translate into words. What is or is not documented can aid future investigations, impact judges’ decisions on probable cause, bond conditions, and/or whether to release a defendant from custody, and can influence case reviews as prosecutors make charging decisions, prepare for hearings, and develop strategies for trial. This workshop will provide suggestions on how to bring calm to chaos through a template designed to organize the information to help investigators present a clear and accurate depiction of events through report and affidavit writing while making it easily consumable to the reader. The presenter will use real life examples to showcase the importance of capturing and documenting the dynamics of control and fear, how to be thorough but concise, using effective language, avoiding damaging and inflammatory language, and the historical value.

It's Not a Win: How Serial Rapist Convictions Highlight Flaws in the Criminal Justice System - Melissa Hoppmeyer, Jessica Garth

Melissa Hoppmeyer, Jessica Garth

We have all seen it before, after a conviction of a serial rapists, police, prosecutors, and other officials stand before cameras and ensure the public that justice was done. While sometimes that is true, typically when one peels back the layers of the cases, they can see countless victims that were left voiceless. Cases are declined to be investigated or sometimes declined to be prosecuted. All the while, the perpetrator collects more victims. This workshop will talk about those serial cases, using several case examples, to show how practitioners fail victims and how all can do better. The presenters will provide investigative and prosecutorial tools to investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases before the perpetrator becomes a serial rapist. This workshop will also focus on a multi-disciplinary approach to investigations and prosecutions where victims have a voice and perpetrators are held accountable. 

It Takes a Village! Improving Responses to High Risk Intimate Partner Cases through Coordinated Community Responses - Michelle Toledo Cainas, Rebecca Thomforde Hauser

Michelle Toledo Cainas, Rebecca Thomforde Hauser

Intimate partner violence (IPV) risk assessments are used in a number of capacities and settings to help make informed decisions, inform safety planning, and increase abusive partner accountability. The surge in high risk cases in the last five years across the U.S. is an indication of the need for a better understanding on how homicide prevention strategies can be part of larger coordinated community response. This workshop will discuss the different types of IPV risk assessments available and the research behind the work. Additionally, the presenters will explore the strengths and opportunities available to enhance resources and sustainability which can help communities strengthen their coordination when assisting survivors and those who cause harm. The examination and review of work from other jurisdictions across the country that are implementing risk assessments and next steps for one’s own community will also be applied.

Kink Forensics: Beyond a Safeword - Paul Thorns

Paul Thorns

Many sexually violent predators attempt to hide their crimes behind the cloak of the Bondage, Domination, Sadism, and Mascochism (BDSM) community causing this community to become stigmatized and create fertile ground for myths and misconceptions to flourish. In the workshop, the presenter will clarify basic BDSM terminology and philosophy, provide overview of the common BDSM best practices for establishing consent and mitigating risks, offer a review of BDSM-related injuries and detail what an investigator might expect to see in consensual and non-consensual BDSM situations. A deeper look into the resources available from the BDSM community and the informed questions investigators should be asking will also be explored.

The Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Violence Cases - Kenneth Smith

Kenneth Smith

There are many angles that law enforcement have to navigate when investigating sexual violence cases which is often complicated by complex evidence, lack of witnesses, traumatized victims, and narratives rife with rape culture bias and victim-blaming. However, investigations are enhanced when law enforcement can properly investigate within a multi-disciplinary network. This workshop will describe the role of the law enforcement response to sexual violence cases in various locations, including the hospital, a survivors’ residence, the police department, and active crime scenes. The presenter will illustrate how officers can respond in a victim-centered and trauma-informed manner and what information should be gathered during the first initial response. An overview of the forensic medical exam and evidence collection will also be presented and discussed.

Leadership & Retention in a Defund World - Mark Matsusaka

Mark Matsusaka

One of the challenges in the post-COVID workplace is retaining employees.  Nowhere is this challenge greater than in law enforcement, especially in the face of negative media coverage, defund the police movements, public protests and increasing workloads due to constant staffing shortages. Additionally, poor leadership within a law enforcement agency and lack of employee retention programs have led to officer attrition from agencies or the profession entirely. Conversely, agencies with strong and effective leadership can improve police culture, engage the workforce, and instill a level of motivation and inspiration. Job satisfaction and the feeling of being valued are some of the greatest factors in employee retention and can only be achieved with agency support and effective leadership.  This workshop will provide examples of the significance of negative and positive leadership and information on leadership development programs, professional development steps, mentorship, reward systems, and opportunity within an agency for employee retention.

Let’s Talk About Sext: Sexual Violence in a Digital Age - Q. Olivia Rivers

Q. Olivia Rivers

Social media is a powerful tool for teens and young adults to access knowledge at their fingertips. It was designed to connect us to one another and give access to communities and friendships with the potential to improve our lives for the better, but with most things, there is a dark side to the online community. Digital and social media impact young people’s romantic relationships during their most formative years, so it is imperative that we understand how these meaningful platforms and apps can also be used as a weapon by predators to groom and perpetuate violence. These crimes can range from online harassment to face-to-face exploitation. This workshop will identify the correlation between social media and sexual violence, identify strategies that support advocacy work and appropriate responses to technology-assisted violence, and provide resources that will support prevention efforts in our professional careers and personal lives.

Listen to the Voice: Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention in Latin@ Communities - Lumarie Orozco

Lumarie Orozco

Victims and survivors from the Latin@ and LGBTQ+ Latin@ populations are faced with additional obstacles when seeking services, healing, and justice related to gender-based violence. In order to mitigate these barriers, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) funded a multi-state intimate partner homicide (IPH) fatality review and a series of listening sessions and interviews with Latina survivors of IPH. Listening sessions and interviews with key informants included perspectives of survivors, community practitioners, organizational leaders, police, and educators. Results of both the fatality review and listening sessions brought attention to IPH as a social issue that disproportionately affects Latin@ women in the U.S. and highlights need for culturally specific IPH prevention. This workshop will take a deep dive into the summary of findings and address the data derived from the fatality review, listening sessions, and interviews.  The presenter will also share and discuss strategies for community outreach, training, and systems-level advocacy.

Live Without Limits! Empowerment Self-Defense Education - Nicole Snell

Nicole Snell

How many of us have heard the term ‘self-defense’ and immediately thought of punches and kicks or braced ourselves for victim-blaming narratives? There is a strong body of peer-reviewed research supporting the efficacy of empowerment self-defense for preventing violence against women, however, many advocates are still unfamiliar with its benefits. It’s time to unpack these benefits and stamp out myths in a way that eliminates victim-blaming and judgment and instead focuses on educating and empowering communities with facts. This workshop will explain the research behind empowerment self-defense models of primary prevention, describe how it has been effective at reducing violence in numerous populations, share the positive outcomes from individuals who have participated in empowerment self-defense training, and how such training can support survivors as they heal. Additionally, the presenter will expand on how empowerment self-defense training is just as much about non-physical skills as it is about the physical ones.

A Lot Left to Learn: Gender-Based Violence, Title IX & Rural College Campuses - Kaiti Blackburn, Christie Brungardt

Kaiti Blackburn, Christie Brungardt

Over the past decade, it has become well known that gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive issue on college campuses. Recent changes to Title IX have presented challenges, as well as opportunities, to the response of GBV on campus. The presenters will discuss the prevalence of GBV on college campuses, the impacts, and benefits of Title IX, as well as provide recommendations for policy improvements. This workshop will offer insights and unique perspectives on how to provide trauma-informed, survivor-centered information and access to services to better reduce re-victimization. The facilitation of collaborative efforts and solutions to GBV on rural campuses will also be addressed.

Meaningful Work with Resilient Urban Native Survivors - Hope Wenke, Amber Warman

Hope Wenke, Amber Warman

Violence against Indigenous Women is the highest of any group in the U.S. According to the National Institute of Justice (2016), more than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women (84.3 percent) have experienced violence in their lifetime. More than 1 in 3 AI/AN women (39.8 percent) have experienced violence in the past year. Additionally, the 2010 Census reveals that 78 percent of the AI/AN live outside of tribal statistical areas and 72 percent live in urban or suburban communities. This workshop is designed for Tribal, Native, and non-Native advocates and will focus on the core aspects of advocacy including centering cultural activities and practices, healing options, and identity strengthening within a crisis response. The presenters will touch on the impact of historical trauma and how trauma-informed advocates can support urban Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault with care and respect.

Mindfulness: The “Next Big Thing” to Improving & Changing Responses to Gender-Based Violence - Justin Boardman

Justin Boardman

Mindfulness allows one to focus on the present, get out of the worry loop, and center themselves to move forward continually. Individuals come to the team with their personalities, professions, and trauma backgrounds, making every multi-disciplinary team (MDT) its unique organism, functioning with a specific personality and energy. These teams continually work hard to improve the justice system for survivors and that work can deplete resilience. MDT meetings can become frustrating and even re-traumatizing. By addressing both trauma and secondary trauma directly, looking at options for more effective and supportive teamwork can begin. Then, as a team, responders can work to prevent future dysfunction – benefiting both the team and the survivors we serve. Through mindfulness exercises, this workshop will address valuable tools for multi-disciplinary teams and individuals to practice self-care. 

Misery Loves Company, but it Doesn’t Have To! Dealing with Trauma in a Healthy Way - Michael Crumrine, Denise Jones

Michael Crumrine, Denise Jones

LGBTQIA+ law enforcement (LE) professionals have one of the most demanding jobs any person can do. They must have a working knowledge of the law, policy and procedures, and know precisely how to apply them. They are expected to understand how the effects of trauma may affect survivors differently, yet still be able to make split-second decisions. They must also be able to convey those principles while simultaneously applying the correct tactics, techniques, and force acceptable to the communities expectations. Unfortunately, many agencies do not acknowledge the trauma their officers experience daily, ranging from service calls to internal strife. Additionally, LGBTQIA+ officers experience a significant disadvantage when agencies refuse to recognize their unique needs or requests. This workshop will explore how the LE profession can better identify the deep scars trauma creates on an officer’s psyche, and provide concrete, sustainable solutions to address and manage the trauma safely.

Model Policy on Stalking Response: A Blueprint for Law Enforcement Agencies - Jennifer Landhuis, Mark Wynn

Jennifer Landhuis, Mark Wynn

Stalking is a prevalent and dangerous crime that requires thorough investigation and documentation. Too often, stalking goes unrecognized, uncharged, and/or unprosecuted. Furthermore, stalkers are not held accountable for their crimes. While most agencies have response policies for domestic violence and sexual assault, a stalking policy is often under-utilized, out-of-date, or simply doesn’t exist. Creating a policy on stalking decreases liability and most importantly improves stalking offender accountability and victim safety. This workshop will provide the blueprint for creating a model policy for your agency, identify thorough investigation and documentation strategies, and will assist law enforcement in expanding their ability to identify and respond to stalking calls for service.

More Than a Buzzword: Discussing the Meaning of “Trauma-Informed” - Justin Boardman, Leah Lutz

Justin Boardman, Leah Lutz

Trauma-informed is more than a buzzword. It improves victim/survivor experiences, engagement, welfare, and importantly judicial system outcomes. It is about creating a community of well-being and a way of engaging, communicating, and supporting victims/survivors. Being trauma-informed is the key to more robust cases, finding additional evidence, and providing procedural justice. It also means responders are supported in a trauma-informed way by focusing on and encouraging the responder’s emotional and physical health. This workshop will explore what ‘trauma-informed’ actually looks like in practice and how to increase the agency’s capacity to deliver these services. The presenters will examine the layers and types of trauma-informed approaches, provide an overview of the neurobiology of trauma, and explain why it is foundational to being trauma-informed. 

More Than Checking a Box: Safety Planning & Lethality Assessment for Victims of Intimate Partner Violence - Myra Strand

Myra Strand

Research indicates that it can take up to, on average, 7-12 times to successfully leave an abusive relationship or “leave the life” of a sex trafficking situation. Safety planning and lethality assessments are very important aspects of a responder’s job to help victims achieve and maintain safety by facilitating an effective departure. Safety planning and lethality assessments should be individualized, holistic, and rooted in empowerment with each plan individually tailored to include technology, lethality assessment, and inclusive of emotional/psychological safety. This workshop will offer strategies on how the responder and victim can collaborate on physical, emotional, and psychological safety for all members impacted by violence. The presenter will also explore non-clinical lethality assessment tools along with human-centric, trauma-informed methods to compassionately discuss such difficult topics. A focus on how to identify and leverage existing client assets in the safety planning process will also be discussed.

CASE STUDY: Natural, Accidental or Homicide? Death of a Quadriplegic Woman - Allyson Cordoni, Yoni Fraenkel, Andrea Zaferes

Allyson Cordoni, Yoni Fraenkel, Andrea Zaferes

In one horrible incident of strangulation by her then boyfriend, Amber Klein’s young life was confined to a wheelchair after suffering from a headache, dizziness, slurred speech and subsequently a vertebral stroke. Questions abound. How does a healthy 24- year old female become a quadriplegic and subsequently die from a urinary tract infection? The answers to this question would have otherwise gone unnoticed had it not been for an astute medical examiner who reached out and asked that this woman’s case be reviewed. This case study will describe the medical and social history of how this young woman was strangled by her boyfriend, fled back to her home almost immediately after the event, and died 4 weeks later. Questions and inquiries that should have surfaced, clues to look for in strangulation cases, and other investigative strategies will also be discussed.

Navigating the Intersection of Military & Civilian Justice - Ruth Cresenzo, Jamiel Peterson

Ruth Cresenzo, Jamiel Peterson

Sexual assault and domestic violence are sobering and pervasive truths in our society. Unfortunately, members in the military are not immune to gender-based violence where military officers experience initial victimization from the offender and the potential of secondary victimization from fellow officers or a higher ranking official. This lunch session will introduce the National Guard Bureau’s Special Victims’ Counsel Program and the Judge Advocates (attorneys) who represent Army and Air National Guard members and their dependents who are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The presenters will cover the civilian and military investigative and justice processes, focusing on the intersectionality with local law enforcement and military investigative agencies, civilian victim advocates, and State and Federal Court systems.

The Next Generation: Patterns & Trends in Sexual Assault of College Students - Cari Simon

Cari Simon

A 2019 study surveyed more than 10,000 men across 49 campuses and found that repeat perpetrators are responsible for more than 87% of alcohol-involved campus rapes and commit an average of at least five instances of sexual misconduct per perpetrator. These statistics, along with the awareness created by the Title IX and Me-Too movement are all landscape characteristics of college campuses across the country. This workshop will explore these trends and provide insight into how law enforcement and the community can prevent and respond to sexual violence in schools.  Other trends that the presenters will examine are cyber-harassment, revenge porn, fraternity sexual assault, and the cover up of sexual assault on college sports teams.  The presenter will share how to focus on folding additional victims into investigations and discuss many examples of cases with multiple victims and how those played out differently across schools.

CASE STUDY: No Direct Evidence... No Problem: State v. Jordan Knudson - Ric Hertel

Ric Hertel

Krissy Asche Jones was murdered by her abuser of two years by being shot three times in the face with a .410 shotgun in the bathtub of a trailer in Ripley County, Indiana on January 10, 2021. This case exhibited many of the traditional hallmarks of a domestic violence relationship and presented a number of evidentiary issues including the admissibility of multiple prior bad acts, medical records, and a protective order. Additionally, the use of expert testimony from multiple disciplines counteracted significant witness credibility issues. This workshop will underscore the volatility of and escalation in domestic violence relationships with an underlying goal of urging law enforcement and prosecutors to charge and try these difficult cases even when they are based solely on circumstantial evidence. The presenter will outline the events leading up to Krissy’s murder, the investigation of the Indiana State Police, charging the defendant, pre-trial hearings, and ultimately the jury trial. 

“No One Ever Came For Me”: Exploring the Intersection Between Black Survivors of Sex Trafficking, Law Enforcement, & the Courts - Cassandra Gonzalez

Cassandra Gonzalez

Black women and girls are sex trafficked at disproportionately high rates but are underrepresented as victims by social services and the criminal justice system (CJS). Survivors centered their identities as Black women/girls as barriers for police and prosecutors to seeing them as victims and instead as violent criminals or nuisances. The presenter will explore research that draws on in-depth interviews with Black sex trafficked women and their navigations of the CJS simultaneously as victims and offenders. This workshop will examine the survivors’ experiences with disclosure to police, treatment by prosecutors and juries, and how their treatment from the CJS created an additional trauma that impeded their healing and willingness to see themselves as a victim of trafficking. Additionally, the presenter will highlight these survivors’ experiences and their recommendations for anti-trafficking to be more inclusive and considerate of Black women and girl victims of sex trafficking.

Not As Easy As it Seems: Examining Real Barriers That Prevent Victims From Leaving High-Risk DV Situations - David Scott

David Scott

Many individuals rely on anecdotal reasoning as to why women in relationships of domestic violence (DV) remain or return to their abuser. However, there is empirical data to explain this phenomenon that can help inform lethality risk assessments for investigators and advocates. This data-driven workshop will discuss the realities that keep DV victims in the most lethal DV situations with a focus on research that examines the reasons as to why victims return to their abusers or are unable to leave a violent relationship. The presenter will provide an overview on how the Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT) came into existence, share best practices, and examine identified common barriers. The presenter will illustrate how first responders need additional training related to the dynamics that prevent victims from leaving. Furthermore, the workshop will discuss the need for additional alternatives for when a victim chooses to report or not report abuse.

Now I Speak: The Power within Victim Impact Statements - Anna Nasset

Anna Nasset

Victim impact statements provide a platform for survivors to describe their experiences after being victimized and how that victimization affected them and/or their family and friends. These have become powerful tools that can impact sentencing for the convicted offender. The presenter will share her own victim impact statement that was lauded by the prosecuting attorney and judge which led to one of the longest sentences in the history for stalking. A review of other victim impact statements and their influence in sentencing for the offender and healing for the survivor will also be discussed. Additionally, this workshop will provide tools and tips on how to help other victims write their statements as well as the issues to avoid.

The Offender We Don't Talk About: The Complicity of Gender-Based Violence - Stephany Powell

Stephany Powell

There are many factors that contribute to the landscape of gender-based violence. Circumstances are complicated further when responding officers are sometimes the actual offenders. This workshop will explore these complications that include law enforcement officers as offenders, as well as take a deep dive into the mindset of commercial sex buyers in general. The presenter, referencing evidence-based data, will discuss the concepts of human trafficking victimology, law enforcement ideology, and the conceptualized approach to police misconduct. Strategies on how to select alternative ways of navigating officer-complicit gender-based crimes will also be discussed.

Officer-Involved Domestic Violence…Now What? - Denise Jones, John Guard

Denise Jones, John Guard

When working on gender-based violence cases, officers focus on victims and offenders in the community and forget that they too are a part of that community.  Unfortunately, in some of those communities, instead of the officers preventing violence, they are the cause of the violence with their abusive offenses hidden behind the badge and broken systems. This workshop will focus on addressing gaps in service when the victim and/or offender is a part of the criminal justice community.  How law enforcement departments can prepare themselves and their officers to better respond to officer-perpetrated gender- based violence crimes will be explored. The ways in which those departments can also better assist victims to come forward when the perpetrator works within the criminal justice system will also be discussed.

CASE STUDY: Operation Miner Problem: A South Florida Sex Trafficking Case Study - Pete Angell, Jennifer Howard

Pete Angell, Jennifer Howard

Between 2015 and 2017, Robert Miner placed employment advertisements across the U.S. on websites like Backpage.com and Craigslist.com, luring dozens of vulnerable and disadvantaged victims to his websites and ultimately to south Florida to work in positions he described as “dancers” or “companions. Upon their arrival in Florida, Miner compelled these victims to engage in prostitution using fraud, manipulation, and preying on the victims’ lack of financial stability. After a lengthy investigation by the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, Miner pled guilty to numerous human trafficking, money laundering, and deriving proceeds charges and was required to register as a sex offender. This case study will highlight Miner’s coercive recruitment and grooming tactics, as well as his use of Bitcoin to fund his escort advertising. Presenters will also discuss the extensive use of ad analysis and the use of money laundering statutes to strengthen this sex trafficking case. 

OVW Tribal Affairs Division: Addressing The Issues of Violence Against American Indian & Alaska Native Women - Sherriann Moore

Sherriann Moore

The OVW Tribal Affairs Division (TAD) is dedicated to sharing the many ways that they support victims and survivors of gender-based violence and the advocates who support them. This lunch session will discuss how TAD implements the Violence Against Women Act statute and responsibilities imparted to it when addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and sex trafficking in Indian county. The presenters will provide an overview of the TAD grant programs, technical assistance projects, policy and legislation, special initiatives, and other activities facilitated through this Division.

Passing the Baton: How the Evolution of Domestic Violence Prosecution Can Inform Sexual Assault Prosecutors - Laurie Drymalla

Laurie Drymalla

Before digital cameras, victims’ injuries were documented on a single polaroid photo; a time before the Crawford decision when cases were routinely tried without the victim being present. An affidavit of non-prosecution ensured the defendant a dismissal and 911 calls were stored on bulky cassette tapes.  While criminal lawyers were beginning to understand the dynamics of family violence, the general public’s understanding lagged, however, today, the dynamics of family violence are understood by much of the community where resources for survivors are plentiful and technology has evolved so that evidence is stronger and more compelling at trial. Conversely, the prosecution of sexual assault remains largely an uphill battle.  Despite the changes in consent laws, juries are quick to victim blame and slow to convict.  The presenter will share how voir dire techniques were developed to help juries understand the evidence that they could expect to hear in sexual assault cases.  What lessons sexual assault prosecutors can learn from the evolution of domestic violence cases will also be explored.

Policing in All Languages: Building Capacity to Protect & Serve Communities with Limited English Proficiency - Cannon Han, Natasha Naunsberger, Shelli Sonnenberg

Cannon Han, Natasha Naunsberger, Shelli Sonnenberg

With more than 100 languages and dialects spoken in the U.S., law enforcement faces the unprecedented challenge of investigating crimes, protecting the public, and building bridges into communities with limited English proficiency (LEP). On any given day, officers may need the ability to communicate and conduct investigations in numerous languages. Many women with LEP that are victims of a crime are unable to seek help due to language barriers or refuse to seek help because they come from communities where law enforcement is not trusted. This workshop will provide an overview of language access requirements as federal fund recipients, discuss practical strategies and investigative case studies illuminating effective and innovative community engagement strategies to overcoming language divides, and provide insight and practices for law enforcement agencies to successfully build trust with immigrant and refugee communities. Along with considerations for conducting criminal investigations involving women with LEPA will also be discussed.

Preparing for Standoffs: DV Training for Crisis Negotiators - William Kidd, Kit Gruelle

William Kidd, Kit Gruelle

When law enforcement responds to a domestic disturbance call, there are many situations that require an advanced level of response that could involve hostage-taking, barricaded subjects, and suicidal incidences. Due to these extremely volatile domestic disturbance calls, the California P.O.S.T. created a number of law enforcement training courses related to and funded by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  One of the courses is the “Domestic Violence for Crisis Negotiators,” which is a 24-hour course that trains over 1000 hostage/crisis negotiators and places great emphasis, on the employment by those attending, of the skills generally accepted as required of negotiators, with hands-on participation in scenarios depicting standoffs involving a domestic violence component.  Varying application of standard skills when the dynamics of domestic violence are involved, how power and control impact the event, batterer tactics, indicators of lethality and incident assessment and strategy development will also be discussed.

Preying Over the Marriage: Examining the Intersections of Religion & Intimate Partner Violence - Kim Page

Kim Page

Many clients who are suffering from intimate partner violence present to therapy offices with confusion about how their relationship experience lines up, or doesn’t, with their faith/religious beliefs and values. What is the role of the counselor or victim service provider in helping clients navigate the contradictions? Religious leaders can have a huge influence on the view of a victim such as whether the coercion and manipulation is accepted or rejected, and who may be responsible for the marital discord. How do service providers recognize signs of religious coercion and abuse? What messages should therapists be prepared to address? How can therapists work together with religious communities and equip them to protect their vulnerable members? This workshop will examine signs and messages of religious influence, discuss what alternative views might be, and how counselors can educate and support local religious communities who wish to support victims of violence.

Probation & Parole Strategies to Disarm Domestic Abusers - Jennifer Waindle, Alicia Nichols

Jennifer Waindle, Alicia Nichols

Individuals convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence and those subject to domestic violence protection orders, are prohibited under state, federal, and tribal law from possessing firearms and ammunition. However, many jurisdictions struggle to implement and enforce firearm relinquishment methods.  The presenters will share strategies that probation, parole, and pre-trial services agents can utilize to hold offenders accountable, successfully disarm abusers, protect victims from gun violence, and prevent homicide.

CASE STUDY: A Profile without a Name: The 27-year Journey of Justice for Lisa Ziegert - Anthony Gullini, Elizabeth Farris, Noah Pack, Mark Pfau, Diane Ziegert

Anthony Gullini, Elizabeth Farris, Noah Pack, Mark Pfau, Diane Ziegert

Lisa Ziegert was abducted, raped, and killed in the Town of Agawam, Massachusetts in April 1992. Over the course of the investigation, state, local, and federal investigators followed several hundred leads documenting what they learned. While a single source male DNA profile was developed and uploaded to local, state, national, and international databases for over fifteen years, it yielded no hits and analyses of over 320 additional buccal or blood samples obtained by investigators provided no match to the known profile. This case study will describe the multi-jurisdictional law enforcement investigation that pursued until her assailant’s arrest in September 2017, and conviction for first-degree murder in 2019. The presenters will illustrate how they employed strategic multidisciplinary efforts that proved pivotal in the trajectory of this case, leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of Lisa’s assailant; a near-fifty-year-old resident of a neighboring town who had no known criminal history. 

Protecting a Part of the Family: Supporting Survivors of DV & Their Pets - Rebecca Stewart, Bryna Donnelly

Rebecca Stewart, Bryna Donnelly

Family pets are commonly viewed as family members and companions. With domestic violence (DV) being an issue that does not discriminate, unfortunately pets are not immune. Research indicates 71% of pet owners entering DV shelters report the abuser had threatened, injured, or killed family pets. Often, this happens in the presence of the partner and the children, exacerbating their trauma. Women and children report pets are very important sources of emotional support. When victims understand the extent of the harm that the abusers will likely inflict upon pets, it can lead to many victims hesitating to leave violent relationships out of concern for those pets. Domestic shelters play a vital role in developing a pet safe program to house victims, their children, and their pets. This workshop will discuss the link between pet abuse and DV, the role of pets, barriers to seeking services, and the critical need for shelter options that accommodate pets.

Protecting the Rights of the Accuser: Litigating Rape Shield Motions - Jennifer Dolle

Jennifer Dolle

Rape shield laws provide prosecutors with a powerful tool to counter defense attempts to introduce irrelevant and highly prejudicial evidence of a victim’s sexual history at trial. They require exclusion of the victim’s prior sexual conduct unless the evidence falls within a specified exception. However, these laws haven’t stopped defense attempts to stretch the limits of codified exceptions in order to admit evidence of the victim’s sexual behavior. First codified into law in 1974 in the state of Michigan, rape shield provisions now exist in every jurisdiction in the U.S. This workshop will discuss the history and foundation of rape shield laws, identify and discuss the most frequent areas of appellate litigation, and provide prosecutors with the tools to effectively litigate rape shield motions. The presenters will also discuss trial strategies to employ if efforts to preclude information about a victim’s prior sexual conduct are unsuccessful.

Reaching Common Ground: Responding to Sexual Assault on Tribal Colleges & Universities - Raquel DeHerrera

Raquel DeHerrera

Responding to sexual assault on Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) is critical for students attending TCUs but can come with many challenges and barriers. Some TCUs do not have the staff nor funding to provide on-campus resources while others might not have an idea of what sexual assault even looks like on their campus. And although similar in name, there are many differences within TCUs such as each TCU campus has specific needs that make mainstream toolkits and resources difficult to follow. This workshop will discuss the dynamics of sexual assault on campus, the unique challenges TCUs face and how to incorporate Indigenous knowledge in a holistic sexual assault response on campus. Specific challenges and problem solving for those new to developing a sexual assault response as well as to those who are enhancing an existing response will be also be discussed.

Ready, Set, …LETTAC! Tailored Support for Law Enforcement Agencies, Officers, & Criminal Justice Community Partners - Aisha Battle, Donna Jean Lindquist

Aisha Battle, Donna Jean Lindquist

The Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Consortium (LETTAC) is a streamlined point of entry for OVW grantees and potential grantees (including prosecutors and civilian staff) to request criminal justice-focused training and technical assistance. LETTAC prioritizes inclusivity of support, including assistance for traditionally underserved and marginalized jurisdictions (such as rural, Tribal, and LGBTQ+ communities) to help criminal justice practitioners best respond to, investigate, and prosecute cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking. Additionally, LETTAC is centered on trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and culturally-responsive solutions that promote offender accountability, healing, safety, and justice for all by meeting victims where they are.

CASE STUDY: Reward & Justice: Importance of Building Trust Between Survivors & Investigators - Michelle Linn, Frank Fredrickson

Michelle Linn, Frank Fredrickson

Law enforcement and investigators are met with a myriad of barriers and challenges when investigating rape cases. One of those major obstacles is the lack of victim/survivor cooperation. However, in this particular case, the survivor cooperates extensively with investigators that led to the identification of her rapist and an active participation to her quest for justice. This case study will provide an overview of an investigation where a survivor worked closely with the police to identify a serial rapist. Both presenters will discuss the transition from full reluctance to cooperate to later working side-by-side with police. How law enforcement can successfully communicate and trust victims as well as the importance of collaborating with other jurisdictions will be explored. How to work on a legislative level to advocate for better protection for sexual assault and domestic violence victims will also be discussed.

*Restricted to Law Enforcement & Prosecutors* SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Router Artifacts: The Call is Coming From Inside the House - John Trenary

John Trenary

A WiFi access point can be a data source to tell an investigator who showed up and when. During this hands-on computer lab, the attendees will interpret router logs to identify specific devices that have been connected to a WiFi access point. Additionally, a person’s phone and computer innately tracks all of the previously connected WiFi networks. Wouldn’t it be nice to match these networks to physical locations? The presenter will also demonstrate how to take the WiFi access points from phones and computers, and plot them using open source SSID and BSSID tracking tools. 

Safety in the Chaos - Shannon Henry, James Hamilton

Shannon Henry, James Hamilton

Increase your chances of survival when personally targeted, whether through your profession, a personal relationship, or an unknown person on the street. The presenters of this interactive session will lead the way, helping you discover your body’s internal radar, refine your observation lens, acquire critical situational awareness skills, understand and perform your own threat assessments, and ultimately master the fundamental survival techniques you need to guard your most valuable asset your life. Decades of combined experience and insight will help ensure participants are prepared to save their own lives no matter the circumstance, place, or time. 

The Secondhand Smoke of Working with Survivors: Addressing Vicarious Trauma - Chelsea Davis

Chelsea Davis

American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger coined the term ‘burnout’ in the 1970’s, as the consequences of severe stress and high ideals in helping professions. As these same professions have expanded their knowledge of trauma and trauma-informed care, the very individuals providing this care can feel forgotten. This workshop will explore the impact of trauma on individual’s functioning and the trauma-adaptive behaviors they develop to cope. Attendees will be asked to reflect on their responses to vicarious trauma, and gain insight into how those responses mirror the trauma responses of victims. Lastly, the presenter will outline strategies to develop resilience against vicarious trauma, and a call to action for organizations to provide trauma-informed care to staff.

Secret Sauce for Building & Maintaining Cohesive Collaborations in a Heated Climate - Julie Germann

Julie Germann

In 2021, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 476 (87R), requiring all Texas counties to establish a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) or join a regional one.  Starting and maintaining a multidisciplinary team can be tricky in general, but when one adds in the unique issues and challenges surrounding interpersonal violence and gender-based crimes, the heat can turn up quickly in collaborations, resulting in scorched relationships, teams that fall apart, and victims left with the mess.  This workshop will demonstrate fundamental best practices to incorporate when starting or revamping SARTs or domestic violence response teams and practical techniques for handling sticky issues and maintaining a cohesive, sustainable team that results in real justice and healing for victims of intimate partner/interpersonal crimes.

Seeking Justice and Safety for Undocumented Victims & Their Families - Shannon Archer

Shannon Archer

Victimization throughout immigrant communities is significantly high due to the victims’ fears of deportation, retaliation, or mistrust of law enforcement and with offenders not being held accountable. In response, the U Visa was designed to serve as a tool for law enforcement and prosecutors that provide victims of abuse the opportunity to work with the government to apprehend offenders and/or individuals engaged in criminal activity. This workshop will explain the crime-fighting purpose of the U Visa and will outline the U Visa requirements, application process, and certification form. The presenter will discuss how the safety of law enforcement officers, victims, and the community is strengthened when immigrant victims report crime and help with investigations and prosecutions. Particularly, this workshop will focus on how domestic and sexual violence cases can be improved by utilizing the U Visa to build trust, improve safety, and enhance participation.

Seeking to Thrive Not Just Survive: Addressing the Needs of Transgender Victims After Abuse - Cindi Miller, Robert Frechette

Cindi Miller, Robert Frechette

Transgender victims face a great number of fears, insecurities, historical trauma and other challenges that are often not experienced by the general public.  These trials  can lead to a lack of confidence as abusers seek to exploit these factors for their own gain.  There are great deal of resources available to help survivors escape the abuse, but learning how to thrive in society and prosper may seem insurmountable.  This workshop will explore unique challenges that transgender survivors face, discuss strategies to leverage system resources to best meet their needs, identify achievable goals and develop pathways to those goals.

Sexual Violence & the Spiderweb Effect: When Public Relations Eclipses Public Safety - Kristin Daley, Kenneth Smith

Kristin Daley, Kenneth Smith

Sexual violence is not an easy topic but it needs to be talked about anyway. However, within the confines of professional organizations – even those with good intentions – untangling the web of complications and digging beneath the surface can be challenging. Leadership often views sexual violence within the organization as a public relations nightmare, not a human rights or public safety crisis. With that PR crisis mode mentality comes an approach to “fixing” the problem that falls short of being genuinely trauma-informed or survivor-centered. The presenters will discuss examples of organizations and law enforcement agencies that have faced sexual violence crises in the public eye, dissect where the approach was successful or fell short, and brainstorm recommendations for a more cohesive and survivor-centered approach. 

Sick & Tired: Responding to the Needs of Survivors with Unseen Disabilities - Tiffany Lee

Tiffany Lee

Survivors face complex impacts of trauma, and for some, this can be a lifelong journey. Some may acquire an unseen disability as a result of the abuse they endured, including mental illness or chronic health conditions. Legal and medical systems are often not only triggering but also inaccessible for survivors with unseen disabilities, further marginalizing this population and creating a critical gap in services. This workshop will explore the connection between trauma and unseen disability and discuss the impact on survivors, including specific vulnerabilities, barriers, and stigma. The presenter will also discuss the importance of individualized access and inclusion for survivors with unseen disabilities, including those they serve and those they employ, promoting more equitable and trauma-informed services for all.

Speaking or Silence: How Evidence-Based Prosecution Can Move a Case Forward - Nancy Oglesby

Nancy Oglesby

In many of our domestic violence cases, the victim becomes uncooperative or unwilling to participate prior to trial. This can be extremely frustrating to both law enforcement and prosecutors and ultimately leaves a victim in danger. Evidence-based prosecution is an approach to prosecution (and is actually an investigative strategy as well) that often allows a case to move forward regardless of whether the victim testifies truthfully, or at all. This approach requires both law enforcement and prosecutors to think outside the box and go the extra mile by using a thorough documentation of evidence and a creative application of hearsay rules to build a strong case. The presenter will utilize a case study to illustrate a successful evidence-based prosecution. 

Spiritual Abuse: Creating Victim-Centered Partnerships & Safe Spaces with Faith Communities - Tracy Rector

Tracy Rector

The triple threat of spiritual abuse from an intimate partner, faith leader or faith community creates an urgency for domestic violence (DV) organizations to reach out to faith communities to partner in helping victims safely become survivors and remain within their faith-based support system. However, faith communities are often reluctant to invite the secular world into their space. Because many times victims of faith go to their faith leader first for help with an abusive relationship, creating change in this area, by having informed faith leaders who can serve as first responders, is imperative to keeping victims of faith safe. This workshop focuses on creating change in DV advocates’ relationships with faith communities by showing how faith leaders can create a safe space for victims. The presenter will feature spiritual abuse from a survivor’s perspective and show scenes from the impactful film, No Ordinary Love, to illustrate tactics spiritual abusers use.

Stalking: Slow Motion Homicide - Anna Nasset

Anna Nasset

Stalking is a form of abuse that is overly reported but often underestimated by law enforcement, prosecutors, and the community. However, it can feel like a slow death for victims who endure this relentless terrorizing by abusers. From the moment she first reported the behavior and actions of a stranger who was stalking her, to sentencing 8 years later; law enforcement, advocates, judges, prosecuting attorneys and more, have worked together as a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to ensure she receive justice and hold the offender accountable for his crimes. Ultimately, in 2019, the offender received a conviction of felony aggravated stalking and felony cyber stalking where the offender was sentenced to the maximum of 10 years in prison. This workshop will highlight the positive and lifesaving work of the MDT and the importance of victim-centered involvement, and will provide concrete examples for victim service providers when working with stalking victims or other crimes.

Stalking & Protective Orders - Shannon Archer

Shannon Archer

The term “stalking” is commonly recognized but rarely charged in many jurisdictions. Across the country, statutes defining a crime of stalking vary on the severity and repetition of the unwanted contact, the existence of a no contact or protective order, and the criminal history of the offender. This workshop will compare statutes from multiple states. The presenter will use examples to show the importance of recognizing and charging stalking to protect lives and reduce recidivism. Additionally, the presenter will share best practices in working with protective orders, investigating stalking behaviors, and prosecuting offenders for committing the crime.

Standard Practice: Creating an Infrastructure for Offender Accountability - Brandy Dailey

Brandy Dailey

Up until 2022, Arkansas was one of 5 states without standards or a certification process for domestic violence intervention programs (DVIP) otherwise known as batterers intervention programs. As such, the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV) decided to integrate this important aspect of responding to domestic violence through the development of standards for service providers and the implementation of an advisory body to regulate these service providers. Considerations around victim safety, trauma-informed offender management strategies, and a values-based approach were heavily discussed and analyzed through an intense 10-month period. As part of this initiative, ACADV have worked with a variety of stakeholders across the State to ensure the values and voices of all participants, providers, and survivors are seen, heard, and respected. This workshop will describe DVIP and its processes, review key issues in standards creation, and discuss offender accountability and victim safety.

Staying SANE: A Programmatic Analysis of a Rural Rape Crisis Center - Brooke Fulton

Brooke Fulton

The trajectory of the anti-rape movement in the U.S. has led to the emergence of rape crisis centers (RCCs) or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs. Has the momentum improved the efficacy of its processes and practices? The presenter will provide theoretical frameworks to expound on the history of the anti-rape movement, discuss medical responses to sexual assault victims before and after this emergence, and introduce a focused case study on medical forensic exams in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache Counties in Northern Arizona. This workshop will also review a process evaluation of Northern Arizona Care and Services After Assault (NACASA) consisting of aggregated data collected from exams which highlight trends among assaults in mostly rural Northern and Northeastern Arizona.

A Step Towards Safety: The Ins & Outs of Protection Orders - Sarah Henry

Sarah Henry

As victims and survivors seek to pursue safety and security for themselves, they often have to take legalistic measures to achieve this goal. One of these measures is obtaining a protective order which yields various forms of legal recourse. This workshop will address questions pertaining to how protection orders work, who qualifies for getting one, and how and when they are enforced. After review of the Full Faith and Credit provision of the Violence Against Women act, the presenter will provide an in-depth view of the different types of protection orders and explain how to identify how protection order enforcement works across state, tribal and territorial boundaries. The presenter will also explore interjurisdictional enforcement of protection orders and the complexities surrounding specific types of orders and their enforcement.

Sticks & Stones: The Language We Use to Talk About Sexual Violence Matters - Kristin Daley, Kenneth Smith

Kristin Daley, Kenneth Smith

What’s the difference between saying sexual assault and rape? Does it matter whether we call someone who’s experienced sexual violence a victim or a survivor? When someone states they have been assaulted, is it an allegation, a statement, or a report? Is consent a tricky topic, or are we conditioned to believe it’s as simple as “yes or no”? Justice system professionals and media commentators play critical roles in how the public views sexual violence. When the way we talk and write about it falls short of being survivor-centered, it’s our responsibility to correct course and shift the cultural narrative. This workshop will focus on ways to cultivate a culture that prioritizes, amplifies, and expands the rights of sexual violence survivors.

StrongHER WILL: Women in Law Enforcement Leadership - Teena Gooding

Teena Gooding

Women in law enforcement has been ever-increasing over time while the recognition and acknowledgement of the value of a female presence along the spectrum of policing and law enforcement leadership is continuing to gain momentum. However, they are still met with many obstacles. This workshop will explore the challenges that women face in the law enforcement profession such as how to address inappropriate behavior professionally. Additionally, the presenter will explore culture and strategies on how women in law enforcement can be successful and survive their careers mentally and emotionally. Clarifying the different ways women are conditioned and how to combat that conditioning to find their influence, the effects of hypervigilance and the ways in which those effects impact the personal life of women in law enforcement will also be incorporated.

Supporting Urban Indian Survivors of Sex Trafficking: Lessons from Project Beacon - Nicole Matthews, Jolene Engelking

Nicole Matthews, Jolene Engelking

Within Urban Indian communities, human trafficking is a growing area of need with many communities still lacking culturally-based services to support Indigenous survivors. The Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition (MIWSAC) whose mission is to provide culturally-based training to engage and support survivors of sexual violence, addresses these issues by offering and supporting Project Beacon which is designed to help bridge the divide between urban Indian centers and AI/AN victims of sex trafficking. This workshop will explore the complexities of urban sex trafficking and offer tips and tools for service providers based on MIWSAC’s experience with OVC Project Beacon grantees.

Survivor Voices in Offender Spaces: Colorado’s Post-Sentencing Advocacy for Survivors of Sexual Harm - Casey Ballinger

Casey Ballinger

When an offender commits a sexual offense and is released back into the community, it is very possible that the offender might re-offend. This could potentially place future victims in danger and cause distress to the survivors of the offenders’ crimes. In response, the Colorado General Assembly passed legislation and created the Colorado’s Sex Offender Management Board which mandates victim representation on teams supervising and treating those convicted of sex offenses. The Post-Conviction Victim Advocacy is a program piloted by The Blue Bench, metro Denver’s only comprehensive sexual assault prevention and support center designed to fill the gaps in services identified by survivors of sexual harm once an offender has been sentenced. This workshop will explain what advocacy looks like in the post-conviction phase, how advocates can work within supervision teams in Colorado, and the value of using a survivor-centered approach to supervise individuals who have committed sexual offenses within the community.

Talking through Empathy-Based Interrogation - Nancy Oglesby, Mark McKizer, Mike Milnor

Nancy Oglesby, Mark McKizer, Mike Milnor

Empathy-based interrogation (EBI) is an interrogation philosophy that utilizes a research-based, personality-focused approach in a non-confrontational interview process. EBI is designed to gain accurate information and induce problem-solving by keeping the subject talking. The EBI philosophy is grounded in empathy, which facilitates an understanding of the interviewee’s point of view, motivation for committing the offense, and the incentive for sharing accurate information with the interviewer. This workshop will illustrate that once information is obtained, it can then be corroborated or refuted through the investigative process, reinforcing the idea that a confession is not the sole focus of a proper interview, but instead a by-product. The presenters will explain how EBI is more easily defended in court as non-coercive due to its conversational nature. 

SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Tech Tools for the Investigators Toolbox - Lauren Wagner

Lauren Wagner

This hands-on computer lab will introduce the must-have software and methodologies that can be used by investigators to enhance and save digital evidence. Topics will include browsers and add-ons, such as the SEARCH Investigative and Forensic Toolbar and DumpItBlue. Other software that will be introduced includes: Youtube-dl (Saving web videos), VLC (Playing and manipulating videos), Irfanview (Viewing images and EXIF information), and Audacity (Audio editing). Google services such as Images (To search only images as well as reverse image searching techniques) and Scholar (To search only legal journals) will also be covered. 

SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Technology Artifact Awareness: The 4th Dimension of Crime - John Trenary

John Trenary

For most of human history, everything we interacted with existed in our three-dimensional world. We experienced life through our physical senses. We interacted with people and objects physically. The forensic sciences evolve to help investigators make sense of physical clues left behind in a terrestrial world. In a generation, we have experienced a quantum shift in how we interact with the world around us. We are surrounded by an invisible fourth-dimension of information technology with which we interact every day. Forensic sciences have since evolved to help investigators make sense of the digital clues left behind. This hands-on computer lab will introduce investigators, advocates, and anyone interested in knowing where truth might be hiding to many of the most common sources of technology evidence. Developing an awareness of technology artifacts helps those who advocate for the truth, advocate more effectively. You cannot seek that which you do not know exists. This course will arm you with an understanding of what technology artifacts might exist related to the crime you are confronting. 

Tech-Savvy Prevention: Screening & Safety Planning - Adam Dodge

Adam Dodge

With the whole world living a large part of their lives online, it is no surprise that offenders will utilize technology to exploit, extort, stalk, or abuse those whom they victimize. Empowering victims and survivors is a valuable resource as they seek to heal and take back control over their lives. The presenter will explain how both survivors and service providers can update their existing screening and safety planning practices to be effective in online spaces and on devices. The presenter will also discuss identifying red flags, screening/intake best practices, how to disappear online, identifying a victim’s digital footprint and quickly securing accounts and apps. Additionally, this workshop will help to demystify digital safety and provide strategies on how to prevent and address the way victims are harmed in the digital age.

Testifying 101: Tips and Tricks for being an Effective Expert Witness - Julie Germann, Margaret Bassett

Julie Germann, Margaret Bassett

Law enforcement, advocates, therapists, forensic nurses and others have the education, training, and experience to qualify as an expert witness in interpersonal violence cases.  Expert witnesses help courts understand the complexities of domestic and sexual violence, including why victim-survivors and offenders do what they do. This workshop will address qualifying as an expert and creating a curriculum vitae. The presenter will also illustrate how expert witnesses can testify, what prosecutors are looking for in the testimony, and how to remain calm, cool, and collected under cross examination.

There Is Room at the Table: Building Inclusive Collaborations to Include Culturally-Specific, Community-Based Organizations - Sakima Romero-Chandler, Lumarie Orozco

Sakima Romero-Chandler, Lumarie Orozco

Research reveals that one of the best approaches to optimizing the investigation, advocacy, and prosecution of gender-based crimes as well as address the needs of marginalized populations is the development of multi-disciplinary teams and/or the establishment of community coordinated responses. The presenters of this workshop will explore and identify barriers, organizational capacity, and strategies leading to inclusive collaboration and engagement between law enforcement, mainstream organizations, and culturally-specific, community-based organizations (CBOs). The presenters will also address barriers and challenges to collaboration, and facilitate opportunities for mutual learning, explore a framework from which to assess their own organizational capacity to engage with culturally-specific organization. Additionally, the presenters will share principles and tools to shape the foundation for developing inclusive collaborations and provide practical steps to initiating and/or enhancing collaboration building. The importance and value of inclusive collaborations in providing culturally-responsive and trauma-informed care and services to survivors of gender-based violence will also be discussed.

Threats from within the System: When the Abuse of Power Exposes the Power of Abuse - Scott Hampton

Scott Hampton

The rich, the famous, the well-connected. High profile abusers wield unusual power to control, manipulate, and harm others. These celebrities create a never-ending stream of casualties. But let’s take it a step further. What if those in a position of power are hiding in the very system charged with addressing victimization? What if the abuser is a family or criminal court judge, a domestic violence prosecutor, a batterers intervention provider, the local police chief or a guard at a correctional facility? Would you be able to confront your colleague? Does your agency or community collaborative have policies in place in the event that one of their own is either the victim or perpetrator of abuse? And if you were to look the other way, what effect would that have on your system’s ability to serve the needs of future victims? This workshop will explore ways for communities to respond to systemic betrayal.

Thriving Beyond Trauma: The Role of One's Mental Health in Healing - Mylira Green

Mylira Green

As survivors transition from victimization to victory, there are many paths that can lead to successful healing. It is also a delicate balance for advocates and clinicians who work with victims, especially if the practitioner is a survivor themselves. This workshop will explore the importance of creating balance in one’s healing process and how having SMART goals in each dimension of life (spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, social, and cash flow) promotes holistic healing, resulting in sustainable thriving. The presenter will provide survivors of traumatic experiences and healing professionals with the tools to create balance in one’s life post a life altering event. Concepts of healing, self-love, empowerment, and goal-setting, finding purpose, regardless of one’s past and creating a space to provide constant evolution will also be shared.

Too Scared to Speak: Prosecuting Non-Fatal Strangulation Cases without Victim Participation - Patrick Brady, Kelsey McKay

Patrick Brady, Kelsey McKay

Research has consistently identified non-fatal strangulation/suffocation (NFS) as a lethal risk factor for intimate partner homicide. To date, however, NFS cases continue to be challenging to investigate and prosecute. Survivors do not always present with visible injuries nor are allegations documented in ways that satisfy legal criteria for contemporary strangulation statutes. This workshop seeks to discuss strategies to improve the capacity of first responders, medical, and legal personnel using data collected from 150 family violence-strangulation cases investigated in a large city in Texas. The presenter will demonstrate how the dynamics of coercive control, on-scene statements by victims, and adequate documentation can be used to prosecute abusers when victims are too terrified to participate.

Transforming Secondary Trauma: Providing Support When Empathy Runs Out - Karen Adams, Cassie Drochelman, Missy Young

Karen Adams, Cassie Drochelman, Missy Young

In the digital age, with mobile technology taking an omnipresent role in our lives, victim service professionals must understand the importance of self-care when working with victims/survivors. With the added stress and anxiety of a worldwide pandemic, it’s more important than ever to talk about ways that service providers can take care of themselves in order to minimize harm, both to themselves and to their clients. Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) service, is leading the way by making critical local and national resources more accessible to victim services professionals and law enforcement as they guide victims in the healing process. This workshop is most impactful for professionals who may experience secondary trauma, as they strive to provide community resources and tools to support those who have experienced violent crime. Self-care strategies and the availability of victim advocacy information on key digital resource solutions will also be discussed.

Sharpening the Lens: Embracing Trauma-Informed Policing - Sherrie Allsup, Wiley Gammon

Sherrie Allsup, Wiley Gammon

Evidence-based data reveal that the crux of most cases where victim cooperation and participation is hard to come by is primarily the result of trauma due to the horrific nature of gender-based crimes. However, there are some scenarios in which, not only can there be a relationship between survivor and law enforcement, but that bond can also yield optimistic outcomes. This workshop will illustrate the ways in which law enforcement can navigate the complexities of a case from a victim’s point of view and the reasons why trauma victims present differently than other victims of crimes. The presenters will also introduce strategies and techniques for helping victims of trauma to enhance investigation tactics.

Trauma-Informed Policing: Looking Inward as a Positive Way Out - Mark Matsusaka

Mark Matsusaka

More often than not, law enforcement personnel are exposed to situations where they themselves experience trauma, especially since law enforcement is generally the first entity that interacts with victim/survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault who also have experienced intense traumatic incidents. Traditionally, agencies and police culture as a whole, have not provided adequate tools to manage their feelings and reactions during and following traumatic incidents.  These unmanaged reactions to incidents have caused increased rates of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, compassion fatigue, alcohol or substance abuse disorders, and suicide. Subsequently, uninformed responding law enforcement may re-traumatize the very individuals they are there to help. This workshop will assist law enforcement to develop skills and strategies to manage and mitigate their own trauma, recognize and respond to signs of trauma while conducting investigations, and be able to proactively avoid re-victimization and re-traumatization of victim/survivors.

*Restricted to Law Enforcement & Prosecutors* SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Triage Fundamentals: Windows Operating Systems - John Trenary

John Trenary

This hands-on computer lab will address the collection of potential evidence from running devices at the scene of a search warrant or a probation/parole/consent search. Topics will include ram dumping, using a bit locker key grabber, logical volume imaging, and tips on photographing evidence/information displayed on a running computer. 

Unpeeling the Multi-Layers of an Intimate Partner Crime Scene (Pt. 1 & 2) - Raymond Goins, Ronnie Johnson

Raymond Goins, Ronnie Johnson

At the center of any investigation involving gender-based violence is ultimately offender accountability and victim empowerment. The extent to how a crime scene is processed is integral to law enforcement investigations and prosecutor cases. What is often missed, what should be documented, how individuals should be interviewed, and how advocates can support victims are all crucial. In a role-playing format, the presenters recreate a crime scene and ask attendees to “investigate” a “crime scene”, interview the victim, suspect, a child witness and a third-party witness. The roles of investigating officer, advocate, and support for the victim will be portrayed. This interactive workshop is designed to provide attendees a “hands-on” experience when processing an intimate partner incident and offer deeper insight of the overall response to intimate partner violent investigations.

The Use of Technology to Stalk - Jennifer Landhuis

Jennifer Landhuis

Stalkers are creative criminals who use – and misuse – a variety of technologies to locate, surveil and monitor their victims. This workshop will address common technologies utilized by stalkers, discuss evidence preservation concerns as well as identify effective safety-planning strategies.

Using Code Enforcement to Address Human Trafficking - Dennis Domagas

Dennis Domagas

Certain types of businesses, such as massage establishments and alcoholic beverage establishments, have become an important element in the business model for prostitution and human trafficking. Pimps and human traffickers are opening businesses disguised as legitimate establishments, allowing them to operate out in the public, next to legitimate businesses and embed themselves into communities. Unfortunately, there are times that, due to limited resources, manpower and time, traditional forms of law enforcement have had difficulties in dealing with these illicit businesses. Conversely, in these criminals’ efforts to disguise their criminal enterprise as a legitimate business, they have left themselves vulnerable to the issues and expenses that every legitimate business has to deal with: regulation and code enforcement. This workshop will explore the ways in which law enforcement can utilize code enforcement laws to help combat prostitution and human trafficking and hold offenders accountable.

*Restricted to Law Enforcement & Prosecutors* SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Using Google Earth to Plot Geolocation Points & Create Maps & Visuals - John Trenary

John Trenary

Geolocation information is increasingly present in modern investigations, whether from cell tower records, EXIF information from photos, or location information from social media. Google Earth is a free tool that can be leveraged to support law enforcement investigations, and create effective visuals investigators, prosecutors, and juries can understand. This hands-on computer lab will introduce attendees to Google Earth and the tools to plot geolocation information and create effective visuals. 

COMPUTER LAB: Using Technology to Conduct Human Trafficking Operations - Joseph Scaramucci

Joseph Scaramucci

When a woman is recruited, coerced/forced, and sold for profit, it leaves emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical scars. These wounds are exploited by traffickers and with the shift of power, many trafficking victims are not able to effectively participate in the investigation and prosecution of the trafficking crimes. This workshop will explain the psychological effects of human trafficking in an effort to enhance victim-centered and offender-focused investigations to ensure victims’ needs are met. The presenter will provide strategies on how to conduct investigations and prosecutions of offenders without victim cooperation. Additionally, the presenter will discuss the stages of victimization, causes of victimization, trauma in the brain, learned helplessness, and how to approach these investigations with the best interest of the victim’s overall well-being being taken into account. The workshop will then shift focus to best practices when investigating the offender and how to conduct trafficking operations using minimal funding and manpower.

The U Visa & Language Access: Tools to Increase Immigrant Victim Participation in the Justice System - Leslye Orloff, Michael LaRiviere

Leslye Orloff, Michael LaRiviere

Most people have heard the phrase, “communication is key.” This proves very true when working with victims of crime who are confronted with many physical, emotional, or psychological barriers to recovery. This workshop will discuss the U Visa, a powerful tool that assists law enforcement (LE) in effectively fighting crime and improving community safety while promoting access to justice and greater success for immigrant crime victims. This workshop will review the up-to-date information regarding new U.S. Department of Homeland Security policies to enhance the ability of LE, prosecutors, victim services agencies, and courts to protect and serve immigrant victims of gender-based crimes. Presenters will also address the importance of language access at crime scenes and during investigations, how decisions that LE make regarding interpretation impact victims, and officer and community safety. Concepts of perpetrator accountability, U Visa certifier challenges, best practices, toolkits, and resources will also be discussed.

CASE STUDY: A Victim is a Victim No Matter the Circumstances: Exploring the Actions of Online Predatory Behavior - Sean Randolph, Lindsay Richards

Sean Randolph, Lindsay Richards

In August of 2020, Tamir Saad sexually assaulted a woman after meeting her on an online “hook-up” website where the implication is sex acts for money.  The investigation revealed additional sexual assault reports that were not investigated fully, two of which also came from online “hook-up” websites.  This case study will explore the investigation and prosecution of Saad, the challenges of presenting a case when sex acts for money are involved, and the possibility of less victims if the early cases were investigated fully.  The presenters will demonstrate that communities are beginning to understand what adult sex crimes actually look like and are willing to withhold judgement of victims and hold offenders accountable.

Vigilance for Victims: Technology, GPS Tracking & Proximity Alerts Program - LaVonda Fowler

LaVonda Fowler

In these current times, most people conduct a large portion of their lives online and gender-based violence offenders are no exception by abusing their intimate partners through technological means. In response, the North Carolina (NC) General Assembly appointed their Criminal Justice Information Network (CJIN) as project manager for the CJIN Electronic Monitoring Program, which allows DV and specialty courts to utilize a tracking and proximity alert for victims about defendants.  This program allows victims to be alerted when an abuser is within a certain proximity of them, thus allowing for their safety plan to be put into action.  For specialty courts, it alerts law enforcement and the courts of a defendant’s location. This lunch session will provide an overview of the CJIN Electronic Monitoring Program, how the judicial districts report a large decrease in new homicides, and the NC General Assembly’s plan to increase funding for all NC judicial districts.

What Am I Missing? Informational Awareness for Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice & Public Safety Professionals - Teri Harsin

Teri Harsin

Nlets is the premiere information sharing network, connecting over 18,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. Although widely recognized as the tool to access interstate driver and motor vehicle information, Nlets offers so much more! This workshop will cover some of the lesser known transaction (data resources) that are available to law enforcement that may facilitate in solving current cases. The presenter will use real case scenarios to demonstrate how to recognize how Nlets data may be used.

What Law Enforcement Needs to Know About Campus Sexual Assault & Title IX - Cari Simon

Cari Simon

When female students begin life on a college campus, they are propelled into a world of tight-knit social groups, clubs, committees, parties, or sororities as they pursue their higher education. Unfortunately, from these networks, 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted while in college. This workshop will describe how law enforcement and the criminal justice system overlap and therefore can be complementary to victims’ rights under Title IX and campus disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, the workshop will highlight how Title IX can bolster student-survivors participation in the criminal process, illustrate the benefits of law enforcement and campus police collaboration, and discuss how patterns of sexual misconduct can be identified as well as how law enforcement plays a key role in maintaining safety and security in light of those risks.

CASE STUDY: When Courtney Went Missing… - Crystal Uhe, Mike O’Neill

Crystal Uhe, Mike O’Neill

Courtney, who had endured a history of domestic violence before being murdered and dismembered by her boyfriend and his fellow biker gang member, disappeared from her hometown of Alton, Illinois in 2013. After weeks of investigation, it was discovered that the investigations of both men involved extensive use of cell tower analysis, cell phone forensics, crime scene forensics, and police interviewing and interrogation as well as use of the local child advocacy forensic interviewers. The presenters will walk through the details of this case and address additional issues that arose during the subsequent prosecution. Use of testimony regarding evidence of gang affiliation as it relates to proving legal accountability, challenges in determining cause of death in a case of a dismembered victim, qualifying and eliciting testimony from experts in digital forensics, and a discussion of the inherent issues that arise with prosecutor’s use of co-conspirators statements and impeachment at trial will also be discussed.

CASE STUDY: When a Peace Officer has No Peace: Abuse Within the Ranks - Kimberly Orts, Christina Dail

Kimberly Orts, Christina Dail

It is hard to imagine that those who protect and serve can also be the same individuals who exploit that sense of safety and security that one may envision when they interact with a peace officer. Even more difficult is when the victim of abuse is a peace officer themselves. This case study will chronicle the real-life story of a peace officer’s abusive relationship with a fellow officer and will include details that led to her outcry, the criminal and internal investigations, the high-risk arrest, the criminal case resolution, and the civil proceedings which reinforced the abusing officer’s termination.

When It’s One of Your Own: Officer-Involved Domestic & Sexual Violence - Mark Wynn

Mark Wynn

Domestic and sexual violence committed within the law enforcement family has its own unique dangers. It threatens agency mission and morale, generates high liability risk, impacts public confidence, and questions the agency’s integrity. This workshop will explore the historical view and culture of domestic and sexual violence within the police family and provide insight into the lack of accurate statistics and the unique characteristics of conducting investigations. Additionally, the presenter will describe advocacy assistance, discuss nationally established standards for recruiting, training, corrective discipline, and illustrate the continued need for policy implementation.

Who Needs Force When You Have Alcohol? Sexual Assault Through Alcohol-Facilitation - Patricia Powers

Patricia Powers

Alcohol is the most common weapon used to facilitate sexual assault. Offenders use alcohol because it renders victims vulnerable, affects memory, and impairs judgment and physical ability. Its unique toxicological effects, widespread use, and ease of consumption make it ideal for offenders who commit sexual assaults. Of course, some of the same factors that make alcohol such a perfect weapon also present unique challenges for investigators, prosecutors, and other allied professionals in alcohol-facilitated sexual assault cases. This workshop will explore common issues and challenges related to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases where alcohol is present. More specifically, it will focus on identifying corroborating evidence, interviewing victims, basic toxicology, the effect of societal attitudes about alcohol on determinations of victim credibility, and trial strategies. In addition, this workshop will promote a victim-centered response that incorporates offender-focused strategies for an effective trauma-informed investigation and prosecution.

Why Doesn’t She “Just Leave?” The Science Behind the Seduction to Abuse - Wendy Patrick

Wendy Patrick

The statistics are devastating. Domestic abusers are able to ingratiate themselves with victims from all walks of life and all socio-economic backgrounds because they are masters of relationship building and impression management. Using real case studies as examples, this workshop will expose the powerful strategies of seduction domestic abusers use, demonstrate their astonishing ability to beguile intelligent victims and their families, and explain the well-documented psychology behind the success of their techniques. The presenter will highlight a new angle to the traditional presentation on the cycle of violence, by exposing the often-counterintuitive red flags signaling the sophisticated psychological strategies used by domestic abusers; even as early as the first date.

Winning the Unwinnable Case: Strategies for Trial (Pt. 1 & 2) - Julie Germann

Julie Germann

Prosecutors face tremendous barriers to achieving justice for victims of interpersonal violence and holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. To be successful, prosecutors must understand the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence, the myths and misconceptions about that violence, and the impact of trauma on victims. This two-part workshop will focus on strategies for the successful prosecution of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault crimes. The presenters will cover jury selection, prosecution themes, opening statements, anticipating defenses, using expert witnesses, and closing arguments.

CASE STUDY: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Jake Pape's Use of Religion to Rape, Lie & Manipulate - Jessica Escue, Brian Baker, Melissa Carter

Jessica Escue, Brian Baker, Melissa Carter

In 2017, Jacob Pape seemed to be a model of a Christian man at Texas A&M University. Serving in leadership roles in the Christian fraternity, Brothers Under Christ, as a Bible study leader, and as a Christian counselor masked a predator who used religion to control and coerce women into what they believed were trusting relationships. Pape then abused that trust by sexually assaulting and manipulating his victims into silence. This workshop will describe the tactics Pape employed to abuse victims and discuss how Pape’s abuse came to light, obstacles that were overcome in the investigation into the sexual assaults, and how prosecutors successfully sought justice for the survivors. Concrete steps for investigators and advocates in uncovering abuse in churches and religious organizations as well as practical steps for prosecutors in educating juries on survivor behavior and presenting a complex sexual assault case will also be discussed.

Working Together While Apart: Navigating Co-Parenting with an Abusive Partner - Kaitlyn Eberhardt, Allison Neal

Kaitlyn Eberhardt, Allison Neal

Co-parenting will always come with difficulties. Co-parenting with an abuser, however, will pose its own unique set of frustrations and risks. The presenter will dive into the dynamics of co-parenting with an abuser, whether divorced, separated, or coupled. The presenter will also outline trauma-informed best practices in keeping parents and kids safe and healthy while navigating the murky territory of co-parenting with abusive partners. Specific safety planning techniques to increase wellbeing and the latest research in parallel parenting and legal strategies to further protect families will also be discussed.

SEARCH COMPUTER LAB: Writing Legal Process for Digital Investigations - John Trenary

John Trenary

With every website and app comes new challenges to writing legal process. This hands-on computer lab will show you how to identify where to send your legal process, web resources for knowing what each company keeps, how to write legal process to recover it, and resources for finding information when the go-to data sources come up short.   

The Very First Responder: Wielding the Power of the Dispatcher - Jennet Sullivan

Jennet Sullivan

At first glance, it appears that police officers are the first to receive a domestic disturbance call. But many people forget that often times, a family member, neighbor, or even the victim themselves call 911 first, which then prompts law enforcement to respond. It is on this call that a dispatcher can set the tone for what is to follow. Because telecommunicators have so much potential impact that could be good or bad, there are tangible steps non-dispatch, criminal justice practitioners can take to increase dispatch reliability. Furthermore, these steps can help prevent the disservice to investigators and prosecutors as a result of telecommunicators not receiving proper training or failing to realize their importance along the law enforcement spectrum. This workshop will highlight the role of the dispatcher, the various challenges they face, and how law enforcement, community advocates, and prosecutors can better engage, educate, and support dispatch personnel.

VINELink: Demonstrating the “Work” within Networks - Karen Adams, Missy Young

Karen Adams, Missy Young

Nationwide, fewer than one in ten victims of serious violent crime receive assistance from victim service agencies. To address this provisional chasm, the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE)Link bridges the gap by enabling victims and survivors to further connect with necessary services using advanced mobile technology. In collaboration with criminal justice agencies, VINELink leverages computer and mobile app technology, housing incarceration data, and service provider resources and serves as a valuable tool to view offender custody status information and receive timely notifications. Presenters will demonstrate how VINE provides service providers and law enforcement with the appropriate tools to better assist victims of crime. The lab will include hands-on demonstrations for participants to search for offender custody status and court case information, register for real-time, automated custody status and court case notifications, and how to access VINE’s “Find Service Providers” and “I Need Guidance” will also be provided.