Workshops

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.

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.

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.

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.

From the moment a crime is committed, the criminal system expects immediate reporting and total commitment from survivors. However, fear impacts how a victim copes and navigates their own survival during and after a traumatic event. The presence of issues such as substance use, inconsistent statements, delayed reporting, or other “problematic” victim behavior are seen as a weakness to the case, and this type of behavior quickly labels a victim as “uncooperative” and determines that they “lack credibility.” Through the lens of survival, these seemingly counterintuitive behaviors can be translated into evidence of terror and fear and can teach practitioners to turn these challenges into convictions. This workshop will explore how the role of fear influences decision making and explain how to overcome common defenses. The presenters will provide solutions to improve practices to better understand evidence, identify the predominant aggressor, determine consent, and introduce legal strategies and a coordinated community response to increase offender accountability. 

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.

The momentum with which body-worn cameras (BWCs) have been used by law enforcement has increased significantly over the years as well as news coverage of BWCs by both traditional and social media outlets. As it relates to responding to a gender-based crime or holding an offender accountable, BWCs play a vital role. The presenter of this workshop will discuss the national direction regarding the use of BWCs and how they can enhance and/or negatively affect domestic violence and sexual assault investigations and prosecutions. Strategies on how to best use BWC technology to assist victims of crime, improve officer response, and offer training solutions will also be discussed. 

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. 

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 workshop 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Survivors of domestic violence often recount how they feel like the family court system is a “no win” situation, where the court becomes an unwitting avenue that abusers use to exploit survivors as a means to reestablish power and control. But why do survivors also feel like they have to contend against the court itself, where they are held to impossible standards as mothers, blamed for not being the perfect victims, and often ordered to have “frequent and continuing contact” with their abusers? This presentation explores how the state of Texas presupposes that parents enter into a custody battle acting in the children’s best interests, and how a court may rely on outdated idealizations of gender roles, as well as subjective biases about domestic violence to determine whether domestic violence has occurred. This presentation further explores how this can lead to a court’s outright dismissal of domestic violence allegations and instead require a survivor to “co-parent” with an abuser, resulting in continued trauma for both the survivor and the children.

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.   

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.

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.

The full decriminalization of prostitution is being actively promoted in various states across the U.S. The discussion range around this topic is vast, with some believing that a decriminalization policy will stop violence and protect people involved in the sex trade, while others believe the policy will have a devastating effect on sex trafficking victims. This workshop will explore the “promises” of full decriminalization of prostitution and its impact that it has on both practitioners and victims/survivors. 

Description Pending.

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.

In this hands-on computer lab, discover third-party OSINT resources for searching data on people, places, and things. Explore people search resources, cell phone and email lookup tools, and third-party resources for social media information. Gain practical experience with these tools and expand your knowledge in OSINT research. Enhance your investigative skills and uncover valuable information with our comprehensive lab. 

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. 

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.

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.

At the center of any investigation involving gender-based violence are primarily victim safety and empowerment, followed closely by perpetrator accountability.  The extent to how a victim and suspect is interviewed, and how the scene is processed is integral to law enforcement investigators and prosecutors’ cases.  What is often missed, what should be documented, how individuals should be interviewed, and how advocates can support victims are crucial.  In a facilitated discussion format, the presenter will recreate a crime scene and ask attendees, in a step-by-step manner, how they would handle the case.  What further inquiries would they make based on the facts and circumstances presented.  The roles of investigating officer, victim, suspect, and witness will be explained, as well as the condition of the crime scene.   This interactive process is geared towards providing attendees with a “hands-on” experience of processing an intimate partner incident, of what to look for and what to listen for, and how they might be able to enhance their investigations of these crimes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Description Pending.

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.

The StrongHearts Native Helpline has uncovered many challenges that exist within Indian Country. The presenter will identify barriers to justice that include invisibility, historical oppression, intergenerational trauma, and the impact these have on Native communities across the nation. How non-Native organizations can work with the Asian Indian/American Native population will also be discussed. 

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.

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.

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.

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.   

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.

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.

Jarente Mitchell trafficked a 16-year-old runaway child and an adult in the Dallas, Texas area and got caught when he took the child on the Greyhound bus to Houston, Texas. This case study will illustrate the ways in which social media and electronic evidence enhanced the investigation and led to the conviction of Mitchell. Strategies on how to investigate crimes through the exploration of social media will also be discussed. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Do you ever feel frustrated or confused by what a survivor says or does? In this workshop, attendees will discover how to use The Stages of Change as a guide in how to communicate with survivors, using trauma-informed language and interviewing skills. The presenters will discuss realistic goals and helpful techniques to create safety that can aid providers in being successful in their roles. The intended audience for this workshop is therapists, advocates, investigators, law enforcement, attorneys, prosecutors, nurses, and CPS personnel. 

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.

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.

Discover the power of native social media search capabilities in this hands-on computer lab to leverage the full potential of advanced searching features on Facebook, Snapchat, and more. By exploring unique search techniques, you will learn how to filter out irrelevant content and pinpoint the most valuable data. With practical exercises, you will develop your skills in real-time and gain a deeper understanding of how social media search works. 

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.

Description pending. 

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.

Description pending. 

The presence and importance of forensic nurses is not always restricted to a hospital room. The also can serve a significant purpose in a courtroom as well. As victims and survivors report to the hospital due to bodily injuries from a domestic violence or sexual assault incident, forensic nurses are some of the first responders to witness and document those injuries, along with the emotional and psychological trauma that likely accompanies the physical damage. As such, forensic nurses play a major role in the investigative arm of a crime inquiry as they gather evidence within a hospital setting. As expert witnesses, forensic nurses can be equally instrumental to a prosecutor’s case when they share that obtained medical knowledge in court.  This workshop will focus on the proper use of forensic nurses as fact and expert witnesses in the prosecution of domestic and sexual violence cases.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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 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.

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.

Emergency rooms across the country are confronted with patients that have polyvictimization needs seeking treatment. It is imperative that those patients are treated with a trauma-informed approach by physicians and forensic nurses. Furthermore, research reveals that many practitioners who work in the violence against women space are survivors of gender-based crimes, including forensic nurses who interface with victimized patients and who administer sexual assault exams. As a survivor and service provider, their combined insight is valuable to other survivors as they turn their trauma into purpose by educating and working with the systems that often fail victims. This workshop will address why victims distrust the systems meant to protect them and share ways in which barriers can be broken. How community and organizational systems can improve and become victim-centered and better supportive both inside and outside of hospital settings will also be discussed. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Federal law is clear: criminal restitution is mandatory in labor and sex trafficking cases. But, very few trafficking survivors obtain restitution orders. Fewer still collect the restitution that is ordered. What can advocates do to ensure that federal courts order restitution? And what steps can advocates take to make sure that the government collects the funds for transfer to trafficking survivors? This workshop will provide practical guidance on criminal restitution in federal trafficking cases. The presenter will also cover another promising remedy for trafficking survivors: civil litigation under 18 USC s.1595.

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.

Look through the cultural lens of responding to crimes against women in tribal communities! This workshop will discuss issues related to navigating complex jurisdictions of tribal, state and federal responses, investigations and prosecution of MMIP-related crimes. The presenters will review a case study of the Yurok Tribe and share their creative solutions to address MMIP in a Public Law-280 state.

There are many angles that law enforcement has 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This 2-part hands-on computer lab will introduce students to mobile devices and discuss the many impacts that mobile devices have on investigations. This session will teach you how to identify mobile evidence, strategies for recovering mobile evidence information, and understand mobile evidence forensic reports, using commonly encountered forensic report tools such as Cellebrite Reader. 

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 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. 

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 community’s 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Description Pending. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

You wrote the warrant, you got the return data, now what…? In this hands-on computer lab, you will learn the necessary skills to effectively review and analyze the massive volumes of digital evidence search warrant return data, as well as developing an understanding of how to extract relevant information. You will also learn how to document your findings, interpret your data, and present your findings in a clear and concise manner. 

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.

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.

Description Pending.

African Americans are 1.5 to 10 times more likely than other races to be confirmed sex-trafficking victims. This workshop is designed to provide a relevant and up-to-date understanding of the intersectionality of the increased victimization of African American women within the realm of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation and the role that systemic racism, poverty, and educational barriers play in contribution to this victimization. Moreover, the presenter will discuss best practices for service providers to deliver adequate care to this population through the lens of intersectionality and cultural norms and ways in which to impact the trajectory of further victimization on a macro level. 

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. 

The use of strangulation within sexually motivated crimes is frequently disregarded by practitioners, enabling offenders to escape accountability by simply claiming that a sexual assault was “rough sex gone wrong.” In a system designed to protect the rights of the offender, these strategies often focus on attacking the credibility of the victim. As a result, defenses are often designed around bias, myths, and misinformation to question the credibility of a victim. Traditionally investigations are tailored to document how a victim’s actions or behaviors do not rise to the level that would prove a lack of consent. Without education, training and policy that assesses ways an offender sought or determined consent was adequately obtained, predators will continue to exploit this vulnerability. This workshop will illustrate how to navigate cases where the appearance of consent could be compliance and explore ways that practitioners can build a framework to investigate compliance, lack of consent and the role that asphyxiation plays within both BDSM and the world of crime. 

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.

Offenders with severe psychiatric disorders can be terrorizing to victims and survivors but also extremely taxing for law enforcement, victim advocates, and attorneys in their quest to hold these individuals accountable for their sexually-oriented crimes. This workshop is designed to explore these disorders such as Sexual Sadism, Pedophilia, and Exhibitionism along with the combination of psychopathy (antisociality) and sexual deviance through interviews with offenders to provide an in-depth insight into what they actually “look like.” With this insight, practitioners can be better equipped to overcome potential shock or disgust and better relate to these offenders by learning to facilitate rapport and ultimately obtain statements of confession. The presenter will also discuss how recidivism can be prevented as professionals recognize the specific nature of an offender’s sexual deviance and the dangerousness of their crimes.

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.

Pornography and the capturing of images of humans involved in sexual acts is a historical consistent, the onslaught of the internet has permanently and dramatically changed the sexual landscape. In 2015, the average age a person first viewed hardcore pornographic images was 11 years old.  This coupled with a lack of comprehensive sexual education in schools has shifted sexual behaviors and norms in both positive and negative ways. One major question often asked about porn is whether there is a correlation of causation between porn and interpersonal violence. After years of research, it is clear – the jury is still out on this one. This workshop will discuss whether porn enhances or detracts from a culture of dignity and respect that may increase the incidence of interpersonal violence. The presenter will specifically focus on aspects of pornography that may lead to victimization and explore how these victimizations are met by the criminal justice and social systems. 

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.

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.

In 2022, the Department of Justice released updated guidance on Improving Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence by Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias. The guidance is designed to help law enforcement agencies prevent gender bias and other biases from compromising the response to, and investigation of, crimes involving gender-based violence.  The guidance takes lessons learned from the Department’s collaborative reform efforts and turns them into practical strategies for crafting better responses to sexual assault and domestic violence. This workshop will focus on the eight principles that—if integrated into LEAs’ policies, trainings, and practices—help ensure that bias does not undermine efforts to keep survivors safe and hold offenders accountable. The presenter will also weave in tools and resources developed with funding from the Department’s Office on Violence Against Women and Office for Victims of Crime. 

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.

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.

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. 

There are key considerations to account for when providing programming to adult survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Women seeking services due to their experiences often have a background of extensive child abuse, a significant history with domestic violence and substance abuse, often have not had access to ongoing educational opportunities, and are looking to move into conventional employment while having a criminal record due to their experiences in the sex industry. The combination of these factors can create unique challenges to account for and address within the development of effective programming structure and content that will allow women to be successful, make meaningful progress, and ultimately achieve the life and goals they choose for themselves. This workshop will explore how to account for all of these factors to allow for program development that is trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and achievement-based. 

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.

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.

Join the Director of the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) in an engaging discussion to learn about different funding opportunities through the OVC to support programs serving victims of all crime, including trafficking, elder abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, mass violence and terrorism, and fraud. This lunch session will also describe the Office’s focus on raising survivor voices and ensuring services for victims of crime are equitable and accessible in all communities. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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 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. 

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.

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.   

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.

“Silent Cries” is a case study which illustrates how women in undocumented communities are often targeted by sexual offenders, due to their undocumented status. The presenters will highlight two high profile Providence Police Department cases where the suspects in these cases targeted victims who were undocumented. With the help of DNA evidence, detectives later discover that both suspects were “serial rapists”, with many victims, most of which being undocumented. The women would only come forward upon viewing the media’s coverage of the assaults, and after they finally had their voices heard by law enforcement.

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. 

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Practitioners frequently use the terms “collaboration” and “victim-centered”, but often do not understand how to apply them in practice, especially as it relates to human trafficking. This workshop will explore the collaborative, victim-centered approach to prosecution by reviewing an actual case from victim identification through trial.  The presenter will share best practice strategies on how a collaborative, victim-centered approach can lead to successful prosecutions and victim restoration. 

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.

Although dangerous and sometimes deadly, victims of strangulation frequently lack obvious signs of external injury, often leaving marks on the abuser as they fight for their life. In the legal system, practitioners commonly rely on signs of visible physical injury to determine criminal accountability. In cases involving strangulation, however, this can confuse law enforcement and misdirect investigations and prosecutions. By incorporating tools, training, and a trauma-informed response, these cases can be more effectively investigated and prosecuted; allowing victims to prioritize their safety and improve offender accountability. This workshop will describe a variety of situations where victims may use violence against their abuser as a survival technique, as a strategy to minimize the severity of abuses, or to simply save their own life. In addition, the presenter will introduce a new lens for practitioners to see behavior and injuries through the perspective of a survivor that offers better context to commonly misunderstood evidence. 

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.

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. 

Explore the treasure trove of evidence on social media sites in this hands-on computer lab. Learn how to save valuable data, specifically videos, with free and open-source tools. Discover browser tricks and add-ons to save videos from TikTok and Snapchat, YouTube-dl for other web videos, and VLC for playing and enhancing videos. Enhance your investigative capabilities with practical exercises, develop your skills in data preservation, and gain a deeper understanding of how to use these tools. 

This hands-on computer lab will explore the unique hurdles that rural agencies face in identifying, preserving, and analyzing digital evidence. Discover innovative strategies and best practices for overcoming limited resources, remote locations, and complex data sets. With the increasing use of technology in criminal activities it is essential to have the ability to handle digital evidence correctly. Don’t miss this chance to gain a competitive edge in rural technology evidence analysis! 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is comprised of over a million dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to defend our freedom and way of life. Most service members and civilians who work within DoD are ethical, devoted, and loyal as they go about their day-to-day service to our Country. No matter what DOD does to screen out morally and ethically challenged personnel, some bad actors still slip through and commit horrendous acts of violence and trauma. Over the past four decades, shameful acts such as Tailhook, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Bragg, Lackland Air Force Base, crimes against Maria Lauterbach and Vanessa Guillen, etc. have rightfully seized the headlines, highlighted deficiencies in the system, identified the challenges, and in many ways have improved the systems and the US military. This workshop will review decades of harmful acts of interpersonal violence committed within the military, and the DoD’s response. Congressional, civilian, and military actions and improvements will be discussed to highlight what has been learned and improved upon. 

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.

Common defenses to human trafficking cases often rely on myths and misconceptions about trafficking, offender tactics, and victim behavior. This can negatively affect how investigations are conducted, cases are charged, and evidence analyzed by judges and juries. Trafficking experts with specialized trafficking knowledge can provide context about the modes, means, and methods of trafficking as well as common victim responses to trauma. Additionally, they can assist prosecutors in ensuring that fact finders make informed decisions based on the evidence.  The presenters will describe the dynamics and issues that commonly arise in human trafficking cases, analyze statutory and case law related to the introduction of expert testimony and highlight the importance of deciding if and when to introduce expert testimony in a case. Also, to be discussed are strategies for the identification and qualification of experts and the importance of working with experts to prepare a case for trial.

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.

Forensic nurses are often the first responders that a victim may encounter when they present to the hospital for treatment. As research has consistently revealed, the co-occurring and overlapping presence of both domestic violence and sexual violence exists in many intimate partner relationships prompting medical facilities and SANE staff to focus their attention on not just obtaining a sexual assault exam but screening for polyvictimization. The expansion of forensic nurse services has proven to be valuable, not only in the healthcare setting, but also in investigative and legal spaces as well. This workshop will provide strategic ways in which forensic nurses can serve as fact and expert witnesses in the prosecution of domestic and sexual violence cases. 

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.

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.

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.

From the moment a crime is committed, the criminal system expects immediate reporting and total commitment from survivors who forfeit their privacy, autonomy, and safety. Unfortunately, most victims are unaware that the criminal system is designed to protect the rights of defendants. This misconception can lead to disillusionment or frustration which ultimately ends in victim disengagement. Meanwhile perpetrators use a coordinated strategy, not only in their engagement with these systems but also in how they weaponize them against victims to include using the Title IX system to threaten the victims’ access to education or force a victim into costly civil litigation. This workshop will demonstrate how victims rarely have legal representation in a criminal case and struggle to navigate the demands of a lengthy prosecution or coordinate the demands of several systems that may influence how they participate.  The presenters will share techniques that law enforcement and prosecutors can utilize to recognize how other systems influence a victim’s participation in a criminal case. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.   

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.

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.

This hands-on computer lab will demystify Python scripts and make them accessible to everyone. Learn how to find and use pre-written Python code to address various investigative needs. Discover the basics of Python terminology, how to search for existing scripts, and how to run them for your own investigations. With practical exercises, gain confidence in using Python to further develop your skills in digital investigations.