"Trauma-Responsive Sexual Assault Investigations" 4-Session Training Series
Wytheville Community College
1000 E Main St.
Wytheville, VA
Description of Training:
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is pleased to announce that registration is now open for Trauma-Responsive Sexual Assault Investigations 4-Session Training Series in Wytheville, VA.
Trauma-Responsive Sexual Assault Investigations 4-Session Training Series teaches investigators, prosecutors, victim advocates, and other allied professionals who work with adult victims of sexual assault the necessary skills to provide a trauma-informed response to sexual assault victims, including criminal investigation strategies.
Session I: Understanding Sexual Assault & the Neurobiology of Trauma - September 12
Session II: Trauma-Informed Interviewing – September 13
Session III: Sexual Assault Investigative Strategies – September 14
Session IV: Working with Vulnerable Populations – September 15
(Please register for each session separately)
Session I: Understanding Sexual Assault & the Neurobiology of Trauma
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Description:
This session will discuss the current landscape of the criminal justice system’s response to sexual assault and will cover how biases and rape myths influence our expectations of how victims “should” behave, which can cause professionals to perceive a victim as lacking credibility. When we understand how people commonly respond while being sexually assaulted and how stress and trauma can alter their memory, professionals have more realistic expectations, more perspective listening to their account, and more effective information-gathering about their memories and responses.
Topics Include:
Overview of Sexual Assault
Biases and Myths
Understanding the Neurobiology of Trauma
Reflexes and Habits
Victim Recantation
How to Close Cases
Policing Culture
Team Collaboration
Session II: Trauma-Informed Interviewing
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Description:
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 who, what, when, where, how interview techniques, however, risk impeding successful communication. This session will discuss how a trauma-informed approach to 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.
Topics include:
Building a Foundation for Trauma-Informed Interviewing
The Role of the Advocate in Investigative Interviews
Creating the Right Space
Trauma-Informed Question Framing
Session III: Sexual Assault Investigative Strategies
Thursday, September 14, 2023
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Description:
Sexual assault crimes are among the most challenging to investigate and prosecute. This session will provide law enforcement, prosecutors, and multi-disciplinary community partners with information on investigative strategies to respond to sexual assault crimes in a victim-centered, trauma-informed, and suspect-focused manner.
Topics Include:
Offender-Focused Investigations
Sexual Assault investigation Strategies
Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assaults
Corroboration
Writing a Trauma-Aware Report
Suspect Interviews
Session IV: Working with Vulnerable Populations
Friday, September 15, 2023
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Description:
Does your community’s response to sexual assault include EVERYONE? This session will give you an understanding of why some populations in your community could be unintentionally excluded from your response, and will give your team strategies for including populations such as LGBTQIA, older adults, people with disabilities, male victims, and immigrants.
Topics Include:
Identifying Vulnerable Populations in your community
Creating a response to engage vulnerable populations
Intended Audience for All Sessions:
Law enforcement, prosecutors, system-based (victim/witness) advocates, community-based sexual assault victim advocates, Campus/Title IX, Forensic Nurse Examiners and other allied professionals who work with adult victims of sexual assault.
Credits:
Partial In-service Credit (PIC) will be available for Virginia law enforcement officers for each session.
CLEs will be available for Virginia prosecutors who successfully complete each session.
Participant Registration and Cost:
Preregistration is required. There is no cost to register.
Lunch: On your own
Cancellation Policy:
Registrants will receive an email notification if this session is cancelled.
Trainers:
Judy Casteele, Project Horizon
Mike Milnor, Justice 3D
Nancy Oglesby, Justice 3D
Course Director:
Jennifer Kline
Improving Criminal Justice Responses Program Coordinator
Victims Services
jennifer.kline@dcjs.virginia.gov
(804) 225-3456