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Hand in Hand: Law Enforcement Serving in Order to Protect

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There is an unspoken expectation that if a victim reports a crime, that the victim must definitely participate in the investigation and conviction of that crime. However, what is often misunderstood, misinterpreted, or simply forgotten is that victims endure many mental, physical, and systemic barriers that impede their ability to cooperate with law enforcement and other purveyors of criminal justice. It is vital that officers recognize these obstacles and have strategies in place to circumvent these complications in order to support victims and carry out effective investigations. This webinar will explore the reasons why victims cannot/do not participate, how to work cases without victims, and to highlight the importance of victim advocacy.

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Bridging the Gap: Law Enforcement & Advocacy Collaboration

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This presentation will discuss building a successful partnership between community advocates and law enforcement agencies in order to address intimate partner violence. The presenters will discuss the roles of law enforcement and community-based advocates in the response to intimate partner violence (IPV) crimes, specifically in rural areas. The presentation will also discuss the building blocks of creating a positive relationship between law enforcement, advocates and police culture regarding advocacy. The presentation will also highlight common challenges and solutions involving information sharing that may occur between advocates and law enforcement and give helpful suggestions for building and maintaining the vital relationships between first responders and advocates regarding intimate partner violence.

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Investigating & Prosecuting High Risk Cases: A Focus on Intimate Partner Sexual Violence and Strangulation

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Every year, 3-4 million women in the U.S. are abused by an intimate partner, and as many as 1,600 are killed by their abusers. Identifying the level of danger facing a victim is a persistent challenge. Several factors are associated with an increased risk of homicide—in particular, the co-occurrence of sexual violence and strangulation. Trauma-informed investigations and evidence-based prosecutions are essential to the identification of these co-occurring crimes, safety planning with survivors, and offender accountability. 

This webinar will focus on the signs and symptoms of strangulation injury; common dynamics and prevalence of intimate partner sexual violence; and the importance of documentation, safety planning, and collaboration with advocates and medical experts. The presenter will discuss risk factors and assessment, as well as investigative and legal considerations in these cases.

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Police response to violence against women

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The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) provides a resource library for police response to violence against women, which includes tools, policies, and resources to assist law enforcement in responding effectively to human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic and sexual violence by police officers, stalking, strangulation, domestic violence, and other crimes of intimate partner violence (2019).

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Episode 10: Why doesn’t she leave? An officer’s perspective on domestic violence

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Our guest today is Mark Wynn, 21-year member of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department who served as Lieutenant to the Domestic Violence Division and as a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team for fifteen years. A trainer, advocate and specialist in the field of domestic violence for law enforcement, Mark Wynn is the recipient of no less that 121 commendations and 51 awards for his work, including the 1995 National Improvement of Justice Award and the 1998 Nashvillian of the Year Award. Content warnings for this episode include: physical violence and abuse (2020).

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