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Justice in the Time of COVID-19: Strategic Responses

Social distancing and quarantine measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected all aspects of our society, including the judicial system. While these public health measures are necessary to keep our communities safe and healthy, court closures and subsequent delays in case processing, as well as other social distancing measures, will require criminal justice professionals to adapt in order to continue holding offenders accountable while protecting their rights; meeting victim/witness needs; and maintaining public safety.

This panel discussion, featuring Nancy O’Malley, District Attorney of Alameda County, CA; Ed McCann, First Assistant District Attorney of Montgomery County, PA; and Sherry Boston, District Attorney of DeKalb County, GA, as well as AEquitas Attorney Advisors, will provide practical perspectives to help guide prosecutors and other criminal justice system actors through the broad scope of issues raised by COVID-19; current responses from prosecutor’s offices around the country; and logistical and legal strategies for ensuring justice while social distancing measures remain in place. Topics will include (but aren’t limited to) implications on constitutional and statutory rights; challenges in processing, collecting, and testing crucial evidence; jail overcrowding and requests for bail; and the continuity of victim/witness services.

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2018 SAKI TTA East Coast Regional Training: Strengthening Your Multidisciplinary Response to Sexual Assault

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jonathan Kurland presented “Creating a Comprehensive Victim-Centered Prosecution Strategy,” “Establishing Successful Procedures: CODIS Hit Prioritization, No CODIS Hit, Maintaining Engagement” and “Consent Cases: Challenges and Overcoming Them” on behalf of RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina to an audience of dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, lab analysts, law enforcement officers, and prosecutors.

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Strategies for Sexual Assault Prosecution

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Patti Powers presented “Jury Selection,” “Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault” and “Measuring Success” on behalf of the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs (NMCSAP) in Santa Fe, New Mexico to an audience of attorney’s/law students, child advocates, educators, prosecutors, sexual assault program staff, and tribal community groups.

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Tender Years Testimony Training

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jonathan Kurland presented “Tender Years Testimony, Hearsay Exceptions, and Forfeiture by Wrongdoing” on behalf of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to an audience of child advocates and prosecutors.

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Southwest Institute on the Investigation and Prosecution of Commercial Front Brothels

AEquitas staff, along with Polaris, hosted this training in Galveston, Texas and presented on the dynamics of commercial front brothels, implementing a trauma-informed approach, language access, immigration relief for victims of crime, and media engagement to an audience of government agency staff, human trafficking program staff, law enforcement officers and prosecutors.

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20th Ending Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Conference

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented “Body Worn Cameras & Gender Based Violence” and “Safeguarding Victim Privacy in a Digital World” on behalf of the Kentucky on behalf of Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc. (KASAP) in Lexington, Kentucky to attorney’s/law students, child advocates, dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, government agency staff, mental health professionals, prosecutors, university student affairs staff, and victim-witness specalists.