By Stephen J. Stocks, Grand County Attorney (Utah)
After attending the 2025 CCAW Summit: Beyond the Bounds in South Padre Island, Texas, I was hooked. Each training and presentation hosted by CCAW is an in-depth look into real issues that impact rural/resort communities like mine daily. As an elected prosecutor for Grand County, Utah, we face the challenges that having two national parks, one state park, and world class outdoor sports presents. We have a high number of tourists who visit the area, and we frequently encounter both tourists and locals alike that are suffering from the realities of domestic violence.
The challenges that we face in this community are unique. These niche issues place our cases in circumstances that many other jurisdictions do not face. Interfacing and networking with other professionals at CCAW Summit that experience these same challenges provide valuable insight that we would normally not receive.
CCAW Summit provides trainings that have hands-on approaches ranging from aquatic homicide to impacts with unavailable witnesses. These difficulties and unique circumstances translates to decreased number of filings, prosecutions, and convictions. The tools taught at this conference have the ability to increase the positive impact we, as law enforcement professions, can make to create positive changes and support the victims.
If there is a community that falls within this scope, I strongly urge you to attend. There is not another training like this. The days and trainings are planned meaningfully so that there is something to address each member of a domestic violence response team. The trainings cover professionals through the entire domestic violence process including: victim advocates (system and community-based), prosecution, law enforcement, and many others. The focus allows each profession to receive personalized training to their discipline.
I will be returning this year as there is no other training that addresses the needs of my community’s prosecution as well as CCAW Summit. The unique circumstances addressed by this training are often overlooked due to the size and population of these communities. I look forward to learning from amazing presenters who are passionate about their work and receiving additional skills that these presenters provide.
