The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is pleased to announce that registration is now open for Trauma-Responsive Investigations and Sexual Assault Victim Interviews (TRI-SAVI) training.
The interview with the victim-survivor may be the most critical component in an effective sexual assault investigation. It directs the investigator where to collect evidence, identifies witnesses and suspects to interview, and can generate corroborative evidence. Traditional interview techniques, however, risk impeding successful communication. A trauma-informed approach to sexual assault investigations and victim interviews uses our understanding of how trauma impacts the brain, behavior and memory, maximizing the amount of accurate information gathered during the investigation and interview.
Trauma-Responsive Investigations and Sexual Assault Victim Interviews is an intensive four-day course in which investigators, prosecutors and victim advocates learn the necessary skills to provide a trauma-informed response to adult sexual assault victims, including criminal investigation strategies and victim interviews. This interactive course combines lectures, experiential skill-building exercises, and reading assignments.
Addressing rape culture, myths and biases
Trauma’s effect on behavior and memory
Best practices in sexual assault investigations
Common barriers to effective interviews
Using open narratives and sensory questions
Partnering with advocates in the response
Establishing force, threat and intimidation
Drug/alcohol-facilitated sexual assault
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) collaboration
Establishing psychological, emotional, and physical safety
Cultural considerations/Underserved populations
Judy Casteele, Project HorizonMike Milnor, Justice 3DNancy Oglesby, Justice 3D
You must work in a job in which you investigate or prosecute sexual assault cases or provide advocacy services to adult victims of sexual assault in Virginia. These professionals are law enforcement investigators, prosecutors, system-based (victim/witness) advocates and community-based sexual assault victim advocates. Individuals can apply, but priority acceptance will be given to teams of at least one prosecutor, one law enforcement investigator, and one victim advocate.
Please note that completing an application does not mean you are registered for the course. The application review committee will review your application, and the course director will notify you of the status of your application. All applicants will be notified via the email address provided in the application.
Attendees will receive an email with information about location, parking, lodging options, training agenda, reading assignments, and other information.
1) During the open application period, click on the register button to submit your application.
2) If you are applying as a team, please select "Team" in the appropriate section and list the names of other team members who will be applying. EACH TEAM MEMBER MUST SUBMIT AN APPLICATION during the open application period. If you do not have a team who is able to attend this training, please select “Individual” and complete the application.
3) You will receive an email notification of your application status by the "Notification of Application Status By" date below. After you have confirmed that you will be attending, you will receive an email with information about directions and parking, lodging options, training agenda, reading assignments and other information.
2023 TRI-SAVI Trainings:
Location:
Training Dates:
Open Application Period:
Notification of Application Status by:
Richmond, VA
June 12 - 15
April 1 – May 5
May 10
You must commit to participating in every session. Anyone who misses a session or does not complete all course work will not be awarded a certificate of course completion.
Partial In-service Credit (PIC) will be available for Virginia law enforcement officers who successfully complete the course.
CLEs will be available for Virginia prosecutors who successfully complete the course.
Cost: There is no cost to attend. Participants are responsible for their own transportation, meal, and lodging costs.
This is a paperless training. DCJS will provide a link to all training materials. If you would like hardcopies of your training materials, please make your own copies to bring to the training.
Every effort will be made to hold this scheduled training. However, if DCJS must cancel the training, you will be notified by email as soon as possible.
If you are unable to attend, you may send another person from your program. If you need to cancel, please do so at least 14 days prior to the first day of the training, so that someone on the waiting list can take your space. If you do not notify the course director at least 14 days prior to the training, you may not be accepted into future trainings.
If you need to make any changes or if you have questions, please contact the Course Director:
