STOP Grant Training Series - Trauma Informed Prosecution: An Effective Victim-Centered Approach

On-Demand STOP Grant Training Series - Trauma Informed Prosecution: An Effective Victim-Centered Approach

75 minutes

The term "success" in prosecution looks different based upon who is using it. We don’t get to choose our victims or their circumstance. Therefore, we learn ways to support them under the circumstances of the re-traumatizing criminal justice process. This victim-centered presentation takes a deep dive into how we process, prosecute, and protect our victims who are impacted by trauma. Facilitators will explore: 

• The impact of trauma and how it can show up in your interactions with your victim.
• Offer guidance on trauma informed interviewing.
• Best practices that empower and restore a victim/survivor’s sense of agency and trust in our criminal justice systems. 

This is part one of the STOP Grant Training Series: A Victim-Centered Approach to Prosecution.

Cost: 

Members: $75.00

Non-Members: $100.00

If you would like to become a member, please join here!

Eligibility: 

NDAA’s mission to serve and support prosecutors and their staff. In consideration of this commitment, NDAA requires that all those in attendance of our programs currently work in or work closely with prosecution: NDAA invites prosecutors, law enforcement officers, investigators, lawyers and paralegals in local, state, tribal, federal and military government attorneys’ offices. If you are not sure about your eligibility, please contact training@ndaajustice.org.

Questions? 

Please contact training@ndaajustice.org.

STOP Grant Training Series: A Victim-Centered Approach to Prosecution.

All STOP Formula Grant Program recipients must certify eligibility to receive STOP funding pursuant to 34.U.S.C. § 10454 and NDAA is here to help! This training series will cover victim-centered approaches in domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking cases as well as policies that support victims such as cultural competency, trauma-informed prosecution, evidence-based practices and more.

Series Abstract

Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 10454, for a prosecutor’s office to be eligible to receive subgrant funds under the STOP Formula Grant Program, the head of the office must certify to the State, Indian tribal government, or territorial government receiving the STOP funding, that the office will, during the 3-year period beginning on the date on which the subgrant is awarded, engage in planning, developing, and implementing:

1. Training developed by experts in the field regarding victim-centered approaches in domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking cases;
2. Policies that support a victim-centered approach, informed by such training; and
3. A protocol outlining alternative practices and procedures for material witness petitions and bench warrants, consistent with best practices, that will be exhausted before employing material witness petitions and bench warrants to obtain victim-witness testimony in the investigation, prosecution, and trial of a crime related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking of the victim to prevent further victimization and trauma to the victim

The goal of the webinar series is to assist prosecutors’ offices in meeting the statutory certification requirements listed above. The series will focus on:

1. Victim-centered approaches in domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking cases:
   1. Understanding counterintuitive behavior of victims, the neurobiology of trauma, and how to conduct trauma-informed interviewing. 
   2. Protecting the victim’s account through motion practice to lessen re-traumatization at trial.
   3. Working with victim specialists and community-based advocates to better serve victims.
   4. Corroborating a victim’s account without eyewitness testimony or physical evidence
2. Considerations to secure witness/victim testimony.
   1. Consequences for varying means of compulsion. 
   2. Alternatives to compulsive measures.
3. Evaluating and prosecuting a case with and without victim participation.
4. Wellbeing considerations for working with victims. Taking care of yourself.

Resources will include:

1. Peer-reviewed publications and research.
2. Court cases associated with victim compulsion.
3. Best practices.
4. Model policies.

Audience:

1. Prosecutors
2. District attorneys
3. Victim Advocates (community based and prosecutors’ offices)
4. Investigators within prosecutorial offices or law enforcement agencies.

Continuing Legal Education Credits: This course has been approved for 1.5 credit hours in Virginia; 1.3 credits in Mississippi; 1.25 general credit hours in Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas; 1 credit hour in Kansas and Pennsylvania. All other attorneys seeking CLE credit should contact their state bar for more information.

Members are responsible for ensuring their state accepts self-applications for self-study CLE credits. 

Upon completion of your on-demand course, you will be required to complete a quiz before accessing a CLE Uniform Certificate of Attendance for the recording. If your state accepts self-study credits, you can submit this certificate directly to your state bar. In states that have pre-approved this course, NDAA will submit attendance.

General questions or additional information regarding CLE credit can be directed to cle@ndaajustice.org.