As home to the Innovative Prosecution Solutions (IPS) Research and Evaluation Training and Technical Assistance team, RTI International has developed a webinar series to support the creation and ongoing engagement of a learning community of local researchers and practitioners interested in discussing evaluation-related topic areas, sharing methodological techniques, and addressing problem-solving challenges in carrying out applied research. In this webinar, IPS grantees discussed the importance of implementation and performance metrics – not only for grant monitoring, but also for informing outcome and impact evaluations. View the discussion for key insights into research design flexibility, privacy and confidentiality concerns, and garnering project buy-in.
IPS Learning Community Series: Research-Practitioner Partnerships
As home to the Innovative Prosecution Solutions (IPS) Research and Evaluation Training and Technical Assistance team, RTI International has developed a webinar series to support the creation and ongoing engagement of a learning community of local researchers and practitioners interested in discussing evaluation-related topic areas, sharing methodological techniques, and addressing problem-solving challenges in carrying out applied research. In this webinar, IPS grantees discussed their experiences with researcher-practitioner partnerships in IPS and previous projects. View the discussion to learn more about initiating and fostering partnerships; keys to partnership success; tips for overcoming challenges; and strategies for sustaining regular evaluations of prosecution strategies.
Witness Intimidation Part I: Enhancing Witness Safety: Preventing and Responding to Intimidation
Part I of the series will discuss a coordinated system response to the challenges presented by witness intimidation. The presenter will explore methods for enhancing victim and witness safety, improving witnesses’ ability to participate in the justice system, and holding offenders accountable at all stages of the criminal justice process.
Keeping Doors Open: Domestic Violence and COVID-19
Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault: Who Needs Force When You Have Alcohol? Part 2 of 2
Alcohol is the most common weapon used to facilitate sexual assault. Offenders use alcohol because it renders victims vulnerable, affects memory, and impairs judgment and physical ability. Its unique toxicological effects, widespread use, and ease of consumption make it ideal for offenders who commit sexual assaults. This two-part presentation will explore common issues and challenges related to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases where alcohol is present. More specifically, it will focus on identifying corroborating evidence, interviewing victims, basic toxicology, the effect of societal attitudes about alcohol on determinations of victim credibility, and trial strategies. In addition, this presentation will promote a victim-centered response that incorporates offender-focused strategies for an effective trauma-informed investigation and prosecution. Throughout the discussion, the presenters will discuss how strategies may be implicated and altered by social distancing measures currently in place in response to COVID-19.
Witness Intimidation Part II: Effective Use of Intimidation Evidence
Part II of the series discusses the identification, documentation, and effective use of evidence of intimidation at trial to hold offenders accountable. The presenter explores how to admit and present evidence to demonstrate the offender’s consciousness of guilt, to explain the absence of a witness, and to introduce an unavailable witness’s statements via the doctrine of forfeiture by wrongdoing.
Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault: Who Needs Force When You Have Alcohol? Part 1 of 2
Alcohol is the most common weapon used to facilitate sexual assault. Offenders use alcohol because it renders victims vulnerable, affects memory, and impairs judgment and physical ability. Its unique toxicological effects, widespread use, and ease of consumption make it ideal for offenders who commit sexual assaults. This two-part presentation will explore common issues and challenges related to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases where alcohol is present. More specifically, it will focus on identifying corroborating evidence, interviewing victims, basic toxicology, the effect of societal attitudes about alcohol on determinations of victim credibility, and trial strategies. In addition, this presentation will promote a victim-centered response that incorporates offender-focused strategies for an effective trauma-informed investigation and prosecution. Throughout the discussion, the presenters will discuss how strategies may be implicated and altered by social distancing measures currently in place in response to COVID-19.
Identifying Risk, Managing Trauma, and Assessing Your Legal Rights During This Pandemic: A Panel Discussion
Join us for a panel benefitting AEquitas’ work to improve the quality of justice in sexual and gender-based violence prosecutions.
Join Lisa Kane Brown, Child Advocate and Attorney; Shari Botwin, LCSW, Trauma Therapist and author of Thriving After Trauma; and Kristen Gibbons Feden, Victims’ Rights Advocate and Attorney representing sexual assault survivors as they discuss ways of supporting survivors and overcoming trauma. Moderated by Jennifer Gentile Long, CEO of AEquitas, this panel will include brief presentations followed by a question and answer period.
Marital Rape and Sexual Assault
This resource is a statutory compilation of marital rape exemptions at the federal level and for all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Funding Opportunity: Innovative Prosecution Solutions FY’20
The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will be offering funding to state and local prosecutor’s offices for its FY’20 Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime (IPS) initiative. The IPS program supports prosecutor-led strategies for responding to violent crime and enhancing public safety.
Join BJA and AEquitas, the lead Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) provider on the IPS initiative, for a webinar on the upcoming solicitation. It will include a discussion of application eligibility and the application process, program requirements, and examples of previously successful proposals.
