AEquitas - Champions for Justice

Human trafficking often morphs into witness intimidation once investigations and prosecutions are initiated. In collaboration with law enforcement and victim services, prosecutors can both support victim participation and identify evidence that can be used against traffickers to strengthen cases of sex and labor trafficking.

This presentation adheres to the core philosophy of jiu-jitsu which is to use the opponent’s force against themselves. When combating witness intimidation in tandem with human trafficking, prosecutors and law enforcement can take one of the most pervasive tools used by traffickers to quiet their victims to instead, bring the victim’s voice into court via forfeiture by wrongdoing. The presenter discusses strategies to protect victims and strategies to bring their voices into the courtroom when traffickers have relied on witness intimidation to prevent them from testifying.

At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be better able to:
-Support victim participation in sex and labor trafficking cases
-Minimize and respond to witness intimidation
-Litigate the admission of statements under forfeiture by wrongdoing

This presentation was produced by AEquitas under 15POVC-21-GK-03263-HT, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Cuyahoga County is home to Cleveland, Ohio and experiences a violent crime rate that is almost four times the national average. The County includes over 50 law enforcement agencies, and given that violent crime in the county is not confined to a single municipality, it's essential for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to share data about violent offenders. This webinar highlights how the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office (CCPO) identified and prioritized investigation and prosecution of the county’s most prolific offenders—especially those connected to firearm-related crimes. Rachel Lovell and Ryan Bokoch discuss the creation and validation of the CCPO’s Crime Strategy Unit’s priority criteria, the characteristics of the county’s most violent offenders, and the social network and spatial analyses used to identify links between people, places, and violent gun crimes. Specifically, they explain how to use incident-based criteria, as opposed to criteria based on individual characteristics, to identify violent crime drivers, and they discuss how investigators and prosecutors can use such information to triage cases more effectively and efficiently.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2020-YX-BX-K001 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Jane Anderson, Senior Attorney Advisor with AEquitas, facilitates a conversation with Miiko Anderson, AEquitas’ newest Attorney Advisor and a former Fresno County (CA) prosecutor with extensive experience prosecuting human trafficking cases. Jane and Miiko discuss various strategies that can enhance prosecutions where judges may not have experience with cases involving sex or labor trafficking and where jurors may have misconceptions or misunderstandings about the reality of what human trafficking looks like in their community.

This webinar is the first of a podcast-style webinar series, hosted by the IACP and AEquitas, that feature conversations with various prosecutors discussing foundational elements of trauma-informed human trafficking prosecutions.  This webinar is a part of IACP/OVC’s anti-human trafficking task force training catalog.

This web-based panel explores the ways in which bias against victims from Latine communities affects the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking. Panelists address the following topics:

-Effects of inequalities and challenges that Latine communites uniquely face as victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking;
-Barriers to reporting crimes, such as bias and stereotypes held by law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and jurors that can translate into disparate outcomes for victims through unfair credibility determinations;
-Impact of bias on endangering accurate assessments of the probability of conviction in cases, and collateral consequences on a victim’s ability to seek restoration;
-Necessary commitments offices must make to eradicate implicit bias among its staff and enhance recruitment, mentorship, and support opportunities for individuals who are Latine; and
-Strategies for prosecutors’ offices to enhance justice for victims by engaging in cultural humility, promoting criminal record relief, improving training, and ensuring accountability reinforced by data. 

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-22-GK-03987-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

Law enforcement are regularly challenged to build cases that can be successfully prosecuted when victims are unable to participate. There are a myriad of ways to build cases that are not wholly dependent on victim testimony, and one powerful strategy is to use wiretaps that can capture communications and ultimately establish the elements of “force, fraud, or coercion”. Eavesdropping warrant investigations are technical and resource-intensive, however they are highly effective in obtaining evidence to prosecute offenders without relying on testimony from victims who are often fearful, distrustful, intimidated, and traumatized.

This training focuses on how prosecutors and law enforcement can effectively use eavesdropping warrants to hold traffickers accountable and build strong, actionable investigations even if wiretapping is not ultimately employed. Presenters provide approaches to maximize resources, even when limited, to enable jurisdictions of all sizes to utilize eavesdropping warrants. Additionally, practical strategies to comply with ethical and legal obligations are discussed, including methods to minimize harm and trauma to victims and survivors.

Learning Objectives:
-Build an investigation sufficient to support an application for an eavesdropping warrant
-Define legal requirements before, during, and after intercepting electronic communications
-Litigate pretrial motions to admit out-of-court statements and expert testimony

This presentation was produced by AEquitas under 15POVC-21-GK-03263-HT, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Stalking is pervasive. Every day, victims suffer immeasurable fear and distress over repeated, unwanted, and threatening conduct directed at them by their stalkers. Despite the frequency of stalking and its profound impact on victims, offenders are rarely held accountable by the criminal justice system. Many reports from victims — to family, friends, and law enforcement — are only taken seriously once stalkers escalate their behaviors and cause significant property damage, physical harm, or death. Sometimes, even victims themselves are unable to identify stalking behaviors, largely due to narrow societal and media depictions of what constitutes stalking.

In this webinar, participants are challenged to adopt a new paradigm of offender behavior. By viewing an offender’s conduct against a victim through a holistic—rather than episodic—lens, participants learn how stalking charges can provide the critical link between seemingly isolated instances. After discussing common stalking behaviors, which go far beyond pop culture stereotypes, presenters discuss how criminal justice system actors and allied professionals can enhance their response, including methods for investigating and prosecuting stalking offenses. Instead of considering stalking crimes to be too complex or as an afterthought to other offenses, participants will view these charges as key to holding offenders accountable for the full scope of their criminality.

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
-Identify stalking offenses and dynamics
-Enhance the investigation and prosecution of stalking, both as a stand-alone offense and as a co-occurring offense
-Increase the safety of stalking victims

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-21-GK-02220-MUMU and Grant No. Grant No. 2017-TA-AX-K074, both awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

Traffickers target individuals whom they believe they can exploit with impunity – individuals who are accessible, vulnerable, and less likely to report their exploitation to law enforcement. As a result, individuals who have a criminal record, are under court supervision, or are otherwise subject to the authority of the criminal justice system are at higher risk for exploitation. Individuals who also struggle with addiction and substance use disorders are especially vulnerable to coercion. The Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report has identified “participants in court-ordered substance use diversion programs” as individuals especially vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking, and recent news reports have validated this assertion. Likewise, the U.S. Department of Justice’s 2022 National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking includes action items aimed at countering common trafficker tactics of manipulating and exploiting individuals with substance use disorders.

This presentation identifies trafficking schemes that involve recruitment from local jails and prisons, as well as from court-sanctioned treatment programs as an alternative to incarceration. The presenters focus on strategies to address victim safety concerns and investigate and prosecute trafficking that intersects with the criminal justice system. Throughout the discussion, the presenters underscore the importance of trauma-informed practices and a multidisciplinary response that includes meaningful access to survivor-led programing and low-barrier services, including appropriate healthcare.

Learning Objectives:
-Identify how traffickers identify, recruit, and coerce victims from jails, prisons, and court-ordered programs.
-Investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases in which victims have intersected with the criminal justice system.
-Collaborate with allied professionals to overcome barriers and provide meaningful access to justice for systems-involved victims.

This presentation was produced by AEquitas under 15POVC-21-GK-03263-HT, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prosecutors seeking justice in crimes of sexual and domestic violence must often balance holding perpetrators accountable and valuing victim autonomy. Many victims are unable to participate in the prosecution for reasons including fear, ongoing trauma, love for or loyalty to the perpetrator, intimidation, financial harm, self-blame, or embarrassment. Reliving the traumatization of their sexual assault or domestic abuse while feeling like they are in the spotlight can be overwhelming and lead to reluctance to participate in the process. When this happens, the pressure to ensure offenders are fully prosecuted may tempt prosecutors to utilize more extreme methods such as material witness warrants or to seek body attachments or bench warrants—without full appreciation of the impact on the victim or a consideration of possible alternatives.

This presentation discusses the obstacles victims face when considering whether to participate in the prosecution of domestic violence or sexual assault and suggests strategies that prosecutors can use to minimize these barriers to facilitate victim participation. Presenters highlight the negative impacts that pre-trial detention and other next-level measures have on victims and on the community. In circumstances when victims are unable to participate, presenters will discuss possible alternatives for the prosecutor and considerations for balancing public safety risks with victim self-determination.

At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be better able to:
-Identify barriers faced by victims participating in investigations and prosecutions of sexual and domestic violence.
-Develop strategies to support victim participation.
-Balance public safety concerns in holding offenders accountable with victim interests in autonomy and self-determination.
-Employ the least restrictive methods possible to enable victims to testify when next-level measures must be utilized.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-21-GK-02220-MUMU awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice.

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), also known as Red Flag Laws, are a promising tool of intervention but are relatively unknown to prosecutors across the nation. ERPOs are court orders that temporarily restrict access to firearms for individuals at elevated risk of harming themselves or others. As caseloads swell and rates of violence surge, prosecutors, law enforcement, and advocates can learn about and begin to deploy tools that can help mitigate and prevent future harm upstream— when warning signs first come to light.

This presentation is led by national experts from the Regional Domestic Violence Firearms Enforcement Unit of the King County, Washington Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Presenters discuss how criminal justice professionals can utilize ERPOs to restrict firearm access for individuals exhibiting a wide variety of high-risk behaviors. They also explore the efficacy of ERPOS to reduce gun violence.

As a result of this presentation, participants will be better able to:
-Understand the purpose and scope of extreme risk protective orders
-Incorporate extreme risk protective orders into existing protective order practice

Image exploitation involves the nonconsensual creation, possession, or distribution of an image or images depicting victims nude, semi-nude, engaged in consensual sexual activity, or being sexually assaulted. It exposes victims to immeasurable trauma of essentially infinite duration, permanently invading their autonomy and security. As technology continues to evolve more quickly than the law, investigators and prosecutors must be prepared to address image exploitation crimes by collaborating on digital investigations; leveraging existing, if imperfect, statutes; and combating victim-blaming attitudes. 

This presentation explores the various forms of image exploitation and the types of statutes under which this abuse can be prosecuted. The presenter provides strategies to introduce relevant digital evidence while ethically safeguarding victim privacy. Resources are also be provided to support victims who would like to explore non-criminal avenues of achieving justice. 

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be better able to:
-Identify crimes of image exploitation and available statutes that may be used to prosecute offenders.
-Make charging decisions that hold offenders accountable for the full extent of their criminal behavior.
-Combat victim-blaming attitudes and articulate the harm caused by offenders who commit crimes of image exploitation.

As violent crime increases nationwide, reports of increases in carjackings has become a concern in many communities. However, because jurisdictions often include carjackings under a general category of robbery, it is difficult to accurately identify the number of carjackings occurring separately from those robberies. This webinar spotlights the experiences of an IPS grantee’s efforts to tackle this issue from a data collection and analysis perspective. Ryan Bokoch of the Cuyahoga County Office of the Prosecutor in Cleveland, OH discusses his Crime Strategy Unit’s effort to collect and analyze data concerning carjackings in the Cleveland area so that the Office of the Prosecutor and their partners would have an accurate understanding of the numbers, location and perpetrator/victim demographics associated with this violent and potentially deadly crime.

Upon completion of this session, participants will be better able to:

-Assess current data collection efforts regarding carjacking crime.
-Analyze data to create an accurate picture of carjacking crime within your jurisdiction.
-Utilize data to inform the response to carjacking crime.

While awareness of human trafficking is on the rise, there are still blind spots that prevent law enforcement from recognizing all forms of exploitation.  Men, boys, and victims of labor trafficking through forced criminality are often overlooked because they do not fit the typical depiction of a human trafficking victim.   However, in the case of Victor Rax, Utah’s Attorney General’s Office was able to identify dozens of boys and young men from immigrant communities who were forced to sell drugs after being sexually, spiritually, and physically abused. 

The presenters use the Rax case as a backdrop to discuss the realities of labor trafficking through forced criminality, including how traffickers use grooming tactics common in both child sexual abuse cases and in gang culture to recruit and coerce victims to commit crimes.  Strategies to better identify and respond to cases of forced criminality are discussed through a detailed examination of the Rax investigation which led to his eventual arrest for sexual abuse and labor trafficking. 

At the end of this presentation, participants will be better able to:
-Recognize and describe methods traffickers use to identify, recruit, and coerce victims of labor trafficking via forced criminality
-Conduct trauma-informed investigations and prosecutions in cases where male victims have been abused and exploited to effectively hold offenders accountable
-Collaborate to provide support to and connect male victims of forced criminality/human trafficking with meaningful services

Trauma is a direct result of the abuse and exploitation that offenders inflict on victims of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. This acute trauma, often compounded with historical trauma, impacts survivor’s ability to fully participate in the criminal justice process. As a result, a collaborative, trauma-informed response that takes historical context into consideration is essential to ensuring survivor access to justice while improving community safety.

This presentation describes various forms of trauma that victims may experience throughout their lives and as a result of an offender’s victimization. Presenters define cultural humility as a key element of a successful trauma-informed response that improves our individual, collective, and systematic responses to survivors. Additionally, the presenters provide strategies to identify, document, and introduce evidence of trauma to improve case outcomes and community safety by holding offenders accountable.

At the conclusion of this training, participants will be better able to:

• Identify signs and symptoms of trauma, and implement trauma-informed practices

• Enhance victim safety, privacy, autonomy, and participation through collaboration with allied professionals

• Practice cultural humility while preparing cases to proceed, regardless of a victim’s ability to participate in the process

This webinar spotlights Yolo County’s new criminal justice transparency portal, an innovative website created by the District Attorney’s Office, the Yolo County Multi-Cultural Council, and Measures for Justice (an organization that uses accurate criminal justice data to spur reform). The portal was developed to help the office analyze prosecution data and enhance trust with the community through transparency and accountability. It allows citizens an intimate glimpse into the prosecutorial process in Yolo County—including crime trends that are affecting their community; law enforcement resources in the area; and detailed case statistics pertaining to referrals, charging, diversion, and sentencing decisions. During this webinar, presenters give a live walkthrough of the portal, chronicle the process behind publicizing this data, and discuss their aspirations and policy goals driving this project.

Every year, 3-4 million women in the U.S. are abused and 1,500-1,600 are killed by their abusers. One challenge, for first responders to a domestic disturbance where both parties are injured, is identifying the predominant aggressor. Police and prosecutors must also be able to determine the level of danger facing a victim. Several factors are associated with an increased risk of homicide in domestic violence relationships. While we cannot predict what will happen in a particular case, danger assessments can help determine the risk that a victim faces, enabling us to better prioritize our efforts and support the victim.

This presentation emphasizes the importance of contextual analysis in evaluating criminal responsibility at the arrest, charging, pre-trial, and sentencing phases. Such analysis will help to ensure that the dynamics of domestic violence are properly factored into decisions about arrest, charging, plea negotiations, and sentencing, and will enhance the quality of justice for those who have been victims of abuse. The presentation also discusses the importance of danger assessments and best practices in lethality evaluation.

At the conclusion of this presentation participants will be better able to:
- Evaluate the context within which an act of violence occurs.
- Overcome batterer manipulation of the justice system.
- Identify risk and lethality factors.

The way we interact with technology continues to increase and evolve as we rely on computers, smart phones, and other digital devices to complete many of our daily activities. Unfortunately, as technology becomes more integral to our lives, offenders have increasingly misused technology to facilitate crimes against women, and as a means to assert power and control in the course of an intimate partner relationship. Where technology is being used to perpetrate crimes, investigators and prosecutors can identify, preserve, and present digital evidence in order strengthen cases, support victims, and hold offenders accountable for the full range of their criminal and abusive activity

This presentation demonstrates how cyber investigations can be used to reveal evidence of criminal activity, as well as evidence of the power and control dynamics of an abusive intimate partner relationship, but while also supporting the protection of victim privacy. The presenter discusses theories of admission, rules of evidence, and case law is discussed using “real life” examples to demonstrate how to properly authenticate and introduce digital evidence in civil and criminal proceedings.

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be better able to:

- Identify how offender misuse technology to perpetrate crimes and assert power and control against intimate partners

- Coordinate with allied professionals to better identify sources of digital evidence that can be used to strengthen prosecutions

- Effectively litigate the admission of digital evidence by analyzing applicable evidence rules, current case law, and underlying theories of admission

Presented by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, Innovative Prosecution Solutions (IPS) Grantee

The opioid epidemic has devastated communities across the United States, resulting in hundreds of thousands of lives lost in the past two decades. In response, some state and local prosecutors have taken a data-driven approach to the crisis. This webinar spotlights the experiences of an Innovative Prosecution Solutions (IPS) grantee’s efforts to tackle one troubling aspect of the opioid epidemic—doctors and pharmacists who inappropriately disseminate opioid medications. Tamara Holland of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in Texas discusses data-driven methods to identify and prosecute “pill-mill” practices, such as analyzing prescription history data through Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and overdose death data from medical examiners’ offices.

Upon completion of this session, participants will be better able to:

- Collaborate with allied professionals to collect and analyze comprehensive data.

- Identify connections between at risk-patients and drug-diverting pharmacies and doctors.

- Utilize data analysis in conjunction with other intelligence-building techniques to inform charging strategies for prosecuting “pill-mill” doctors.

Victims are impacted by violent crimes in a myriad of ways. Although there are commonalities, each victim’s response to trauma is unique to that individual. In order to support victim engagement throughout the criminal justice process, allied professionals must interact with victims in ways that consider the physical and emotional effects of trauma as well as the impact of COVID-19.  Interviewers and prosecutors presenting victim testimony at trial must understand common responses to trauma and how they may affect a victim’s ability to recall and recount details of their experience of a violent crime.
 
This presentation discusses the impact of trauma on victims of violent crimes in cold and current cases and explore research and practice-based information to assist allied professionals in helping victims to access and describe their experience. Emphasis is placed on integrating a trauma-informed response from the first contact with a victim or renewed contact in a cold case, through the conclusion of the case.

This webinar is presented by Patricia D. Powers, Attorney Advisor with AEquitas, and Dr. Rebecca Campbell, Professor of Psychology at Michigan State University. 

Advancing Justice With DNA Technologies will be presented by Patricia D. Powers, Attorney Advisor with AEquitas, and Misty Marra Williamson, DNA Analyst and DNA Laboratory Coordinator at the Marshall University Forensic Science Center on Wednesday, July 28th from 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET. Doors will open at 1:55 PM ET. 

This webinar explores the capabilities of STR and Y-STR testing, the use of CODIS for familial searching when authorized, and the use of public databases for FGG searches. The presenters also explore legal issues with collecting abandoned DNA to compare with extant DNA in FGG searches, as well as the effective presentation of investigatory evidence at trial.

Justice can be measured and achieved in a variety of ways. In human trafficking cases, there are a number of avenues to justice—and it is paramount to consider both a victim’s perception of justice and law enforcement’s objective to maximize offender accountability. Determining the most effective route to justice requires knowledge of each avenue and the unique statutes, policies, and procedures that shape them.

During this webinar, participants are introduced to, “Maximizing Justice: Building a Prosecution Review Process.” This resource supports prosecutors and allied professionals in identifying the most effective route to prosecute traffickers. The discussion highlights how task forces can use this process to conduct investigations more effectively, make charging decisions, support victims, and ultimately proceed to trial.

Those who commit crimes involving sexual violence often exploit the disparate power dynamic between victim and offender — whether the relationship is between teacher and student; producer and actor; coach and athlete; or law enforcement officer and arrestee, probationer, or inmate. By wielding weapons of authority, the perpetrator leaves the victim with little choice but to submit to sexual acts and stay quiet in the aftermath, fearing that they will be disbelieved or blamed if they try to report it. This is especially true in the law enforcement context, where victims are usually in the custody of their offender and have a history of criminal activity, which often has an impact on their credibility in the eyes of untrained professionals, juries, and the public.

This presentation addresses the reaches of federal jurisdiction to prosecute sexual violence by those acting under color of law at all levels of government. It discusses how coordination among federal and state authorities can enhance investigations into reports of sexual violence, and if the evidence permits, help determine in which jurisdiction to bring charges. It further focuses on three critical Federal Rules of Evidence that can be used to corroborate a victim’s account and build a strong case — even where there is no physical evidence or eyewitness testimony.

The criminal justice system can serve as both an on-ramp to and an off-ramp from sex trafficking and exploitation. As gatekeepers within the criminal justice system, prosecutors are uniquely positioned to identify sexually exploited women and girls, make fair charging decisions, facilitate criminal record relief, and link survivors with services and support. In these ways, prosecutors can clear the way to a different life path and achieve justice for survivors. 

The presenters bring their lived and professional experience to this presentation, which emphasizes prosecutors' duties to achieve justice over convictions and to proactively remedy wrongful convictions. Presenters discuss strategies for engaging survivors, avoiding wrongful criminalization, and providing access to just criminal record relief.

The criminal justice system can serve as both an on ramp to and an off ramp from sexual exploitation. To minimize on ramps and maximize off ramps, we must first understand the complex nature of sex trafficking and exploitation. Traffickers prey upon vulnerabilities that are often historic and systemic in nature.  They use a variety of tactics designed to ensure that victims will do what they are told without resistance, questioning, or disclosure to law enforcement. This physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual control over victims too often allows traffickers to escape accountability.  This presentation is designed to improve our understanding of what it is like to be sexually exploited and to illustrate how we can improve our response to victims, who often do not see the criminal justice system as a viable off ramp from “the Life”.

The presenters bring their lived and professional experience to this presentation, which will focus on factors that impact entry into “the Life”, the realities of sexual exploitation and trafficking, and the factors that impede or delay exits.  The presentation will provide criminal justice professionals with tools for identifying individuals vulnerable to exploitation, limiting on-ramps, and providing viable off-ramps to achieve justice for survivors.

This webinar addresses the potential impact of pandemic safety measures on criminal jury trials and strategies for protecting the integrity of the proceedings. Presenters discuss strategies for triaging delayed cases; considerations of constitutional rights, including the 6th amendment right to a speedy and public trial, the 6th amendment right to confrontation,  and the 1st amendment freedom of the press; the use of juror questionnaires as a way to minimize potential exposure to COVID-19 during jury selection; and methods for adapting prosecution strategies to virtual platforms.

This two-part webinar series presented by the Denver District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with AEquitas, explores the scope of data available from sources of digital evidence and strategies on how such data can effectively be developed with forensically-sound practices. Presenters discuss theories of admission, rules of evidence, and “real life” examples to demonstrate how to properly authenticate and introduce digital evidence in court proceedings. Part I of the series explores the different types and sources of electronic data that are available to investigators; how such data can be properly collected, regardless of whether it is in a physical device or electronic records; and methods to facilitate searching and seizing data.

This presentation identifies barriers to successful crime victim/witness interviews and explore techniques for overcoming those barriers, with a special emphasis on virtual interviews that are compliant with COVID-19 social distancing measures. The presenters discuss the limitations of a traditional fact-gathering approach and introduce alternative techniques to minimize re-traumatization and enhance our ability to re-create the reality of the crime at trial. An emphasis is placed on strategies for integrating a trauma-informed response from the first contact with a victim through the conclusion of the case, with realistic goals for interviews and virtual meetings at every stage of the process.

This presentation will address the ethical considerations outlined above in the context of charging decisions, the investigative function of a prosecutor, jury selection, and victims’ rights. The presenters will use hypothetical case scenarios to challenge prosecutors to evaluate their decision-making in the context of ethical rules and principles. The presenters will also explore how social distancing and quarantine measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may affect how prosecutors meet their ethical obligations, including when it comes to providing discovery and ensuring victims’ rights are upheld.

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be better able to:

• Identify ethical responsibilities at each stage of the criminal justice process.
• Navigate ethical challenges related to prosecutorial discretion, recantation, and disclosure of evidence.
• Approach issues pertaining to charging, social media investigations, jury selection, and victims’ rights within an ethical framework.

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.

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.

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.

SPARC Associate Advisor Dana Fleitman and AEquitas Advisor Jonathan Kurland presented "Know More, Do More: Identifying and Responding to Stalking" on behalf of Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence in Wichita, Kansas.

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.

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.

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.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jonathan Kurland presented "Ethical Considerations in Human Trafficking Cases" on behalf of the Office of Homeland Security, Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to an audience of attorney's/law students, corrections personnel, dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, government agency staff, law enforcement officers, and prosecutors.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jonathan Kurland, along with consultant Tom McDevitt, presented "Investigation and Prosecution of Campus Sexual Assault: Dispelling Myths," "Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault," and "Challenges Multiplied: Multiple Offenders" on behalf of The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to an audience of attorneys/law students, educators, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and victim-witness specialists.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jonathan Kurland presented "Preparing to Try A Cold Case Sexual Assault" on behalf of RTI International in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to an audience of dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and sexual assault forensic examiners.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Teresa Garvey presented "Evidence Based Prosecution" on behalf of the Child Protection Coalition in Tulsa, Oklahoma to an audience of attorneys/law students, child welfare/protection workers, mental health professionals and social service organization staff.

SPARC Associate Advisor Dana Fleitman presented on "Recognizing and Responding to Stalking" on behalf of ACTION in Community Through Service (ACTS) in Manassas, Virginia for an audience including community advocacy organization staff, court personnel, and sexual assault program staff.

SPARC Director Jennifer Landhuis presented  "Stalking: Recognizing and Responding to Threats" in Greensboro, North Carolina for the NCBSI's 40 Hour Threat Management Course on Stalking Identification and Risk Assessment to an audience of law enforcement officers.

SPARC Director Jennifer Landhuis presented "Use of Technology to Stalk" on behalf of East Central University in Orlando, Florida to an audience of campus judicial disciplinary board members, law enforcement officers, and mental health professionals.

SPARC Director Jennifer Landhuis presented "Use of Technology to Stalk" in Lewiston, Idaho to an audience of dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, health professionals and law enforcement officers.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor John Wilkinson presented "Victim Engagement - Maintaining the Relationship," "Overcoming the Consent Defense" and "Cold Sexual Assault Case Review" on behalf of the RTI International in Dover, Delaware to an audience including law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and sexual assault forensic examiners. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson and SPARC Director Jennifer Landaus delivered a series of presentations including "Antisocial Media: When Facebook is Weaponized," "Know More, Do More: Enhanced Safety Planning for Victims of Stalking" and "Romantic Pursuit or Dangerous Conduct: Working with Teen and Young Adult Victims of Stalking" on behalf of the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General (OKOAG) in Norma, Oklahoma.

AEquitas Attorney Advisors Jane Anderson and Patti Powers delivered a series of presentations, including but not limited to, "Hot Verdict in a Cold Case: Informing the Jury’s Response to Evidence," "Overcoming the Consent Defense: Prosecuting Known Offenders" and "Admissibility of Expert Testimony and Using Expert Witnesses" on behalf of the  Fourth Judicial Court of the Florida State Attorney's Office in Jacksonville, Florida. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented on behalf of the National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project (NIWAP) in Denver, Colorado to an audience of attorneys, law students, sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, and prosecutors. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Teresa Garvey and SPARC Director Jennifer Landhuis presented on topics including but not limited to, recognizing stalking, threat assessment, domestic violence related firearm prohibitions, overcoming the consent defense, and pre-trial release on behalf of the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit 

AEquitas Attorney Patti Powers presented "Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault: Who Needs Force When You Have Alcohol?" and "Getting to 'Guilty': Guiding the Jury's Response to the Evidence" on behalf of The Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence (GCWCFN) in Biloxi, Mississippi to an audience of dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, prosecutors and victim-witness specialists. 

The National Institute on the Prosecution of Elder Abuse (NIPEA) is a three-and-one-half-day course sponsored by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL), and AEquitas. The Institute is designed to challenge prosecutors to reevaluate their approach to prosecuting elder abuse cases. Participants received training on the dynamics of elder abuse as well as practical skills to successfully prosecute these cases. NIPEA explores the complex issues faced by prosecutors -- balancing offender accountability with the impact of criminal prosecution on victims. In addition to case evaluation and litigation skills, the curriculum examines the benefits of developing a coordinated, victim-centered community response; explains common injuries and relevant medical evidence, providing guidance on the use of medical experts; explores ethical issues confronted by prosecutors; addresses the development and improvement of culturally-specific victim services; and offers prosecutors the ability to redefine outcomes and the very nature of justice in elder abuse cases.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson and SPARC Director Jennifer Landhuis delivered a series of presentations delivered a series of presentations on domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking on behalf of the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to an audience of law enforcement officers.

AEquitas met with a group of international visitors from Cabo Verde as part of the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program for their program "Fighting Sexual Gender Based Violence and Sexual Violence Against Children."

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jonathan Kurland presented  "Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault" and "Image Exploitation" in Newark, Delaware for an audience of corrections personnel, dual sexual/domestic violence program staff, and law enforcement officers. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jonathan Kurland, along with consultant Tom McDevitt delivered a series of presentations, included "Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Violence," "Introducing Expert Testimony in Sexual Assault Cases," "Safeguarding Victim Privacy: Ethical Considerations and a Plan of Action for Prosecutors and Victim Attorneys," and "#GUILTY: Identifying, Preserving, and Admitting Digital Evidence" in Wichita, Kansas.

SPARC Director Jennifer Landhuis presented "Use of Social Media in Gender Based Violence" with Rebecca Dreke and "Know More, Do More: Addressing Stalking on College Campuses" in Fort Worth, Texas for an audience of campus judiciary board members, community advocacy organization staff, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, and university student affairs staff.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Teresa Garvey presented "The Absent Witness: Avoiding and Overcoming Confrontation Challenges," "Making is Stick: Protecting the Record on Appeal" and "Civil, Meet Criminal: Coordinating with the Prosecution" in Boise, Idaho to an audience of dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff and prosecutors. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented on topics including, but not limited to, ageism, aging and capacity, perpetrator justifications and excuses, barriers to safety, and dismissing protection orders on behalf of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) in Tumon Bay, Guam.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor John Wilkinson and SPARC Director Jennifer Landhuis delivered a series of presentations on domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking on behalf of the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) in Douglas County, Colorado to an audience of law enforcement officers. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented "#GUILTY: Identifying, Preserving, and Presenting Digital Evidence" on behalf of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV) in Orlando, Florida to audience of attorney's and law students. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor John Wilkinson presented on behalf of The American Bar Association (ABA) in Durham, North Carolina to an audience of attorneys, court personnel, dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, law students, and more.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jonathan Aurland presented a web-based training on voir dire and jury bias to the Fayette County District Attorney’s Office of Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented "Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault- Confronting the Reality of Sexual Assault on College Campuses" and "#GUILTY: Identifying, Preserving, and Admitting Digital Evidence", as well as a question and answer session on "Investigating and Prosecuting Image Exploitation" on behalf of the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Info & Services in Roanoke, West Virginia.

The Conference on Crimes Against Women in Dallas, Texas is a three and one-half day training designed to provide the most effective, relevant, and up-to-date training available for allied justice system professionals responding to crimes of, intimate partner violence, stalking, and human trafficking.

AEquitas has been an official training partner since 2011, and Attorney Advisors Jane Anderson and John Wilkinson presented workshops at the 13th Annual Conference to scores of allied professionals (advocates, law enforcement personnel, and prosecutors), which address and explore the complex issues faced by prosecutors.

AEquitas CEO Jennifer Long conducted an Expert Panel on Victim Behavior at Villanova University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for an audience of attorneys/law students and educators.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Patti Powers presented "Hot Verdict in a Cold Case: Key Considerations in Informing the Jury's Response to Evidence" in Crystal City, Virginia to an audience of attorneys/law students, dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, government agency staff, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and sexual assault program staff.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson and SPARC Director Jennifer Landhuis delivered a series of presentations delivered a series of presentations on domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking on behalf of the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) in Anoka County, Minnesota to an audience of law enforcement officers.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented "Intersections: Human Trafficking and Reproductive Rights" on behalf of Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) in Oakland, California to an audience of educators and health professionals. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson and SPARC Director Jennifer Landhuis delivered a series of presentations delivered a series of presentations on domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking on behalf of the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) in Hillsboro, Oregon to an audience of law enforcement officers.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Patti Powers presented "The Heat is On: Preparing to Try the Cold Case" and "Mock Trial Preparation" on behalf of RTI International in Bozeman, Montana to an audience of attorney's/law students, dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, government agency staff, law enforcement officers, personal care attendants, and sexual assault forensic examiners. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented "Tourism and the Link to Human Trafficking" on behalf of the International Association for Chiefs of Police (IACP) in Savanah, Georgia to law enforcement and community members.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented "Investigation and Prosecution of Human Trafficking" on behalf of Commonwealth Trading Partners, Inc. in Annville, Pennsylvania to an audience of law enforcement officers. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented "Drug-Facilitated Crime in the 21st Century: Toxicology and Human Trafficking" on behalf of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in Boca Raton, Florida to an audience of 45 toxicologists.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Patti Powers and toxicology expert Tom Bosy presented "Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault," "First Do No Harm: Trauma-Informed Interviewing," "Safeguarding Victim Privacy, and "Campus Sexual Assault" on behalf of the Cobb County District Attorney's Office in Marietta, Georgia for an audience of dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, law enforcement officers, and prosecutors. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor John Wilkinson presented "Prosecutors' Use of Expert Testimony to Explain Victim Behavior in Sexual Assault Cases" on behalf of RTI International in Charleston, West Virginia to an audience of dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff and prosecutors.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jonathan Kurland presented "Overcoming the Consent Defense: Prosecuting the Non-Stranger Rapist" and "It’s About Context, Not Character: Admitting Evidence Under R. 404(b)" on behalf of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to an audience of community advocacy organization staff, dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, government agency staff, prosecutors, and victim-witness specialists. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisors Patti Powers and John Wilkinson presented on trauma-informed interviewing, preparing to try a cold case, forensic evidence and cold case sexual assault, overcoming the consent defense, and prosecuting known offenders on behalf of RTI International in Rocky Hill, Connecticut for an audience of law enforcement officers and prosecutors. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor John Wilkinson and Senior Associate Attorney Advisor Charlie Whitman-Barr gave an overview of the US criminal justice system on issues related to forced marriage and gender-based violence on behalf of World Learning and Washington D.C. to a group of allied professionals from Bangladesh. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented "Disarming the Batterer: Intimate Partner Violence & Firearms" and "Technical Evidence in Stalking Prosecutions: Where to Get It and How to Get It In" on behalf of the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition in Provo, Utah for an audience of attorneys/law students, dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, government agency staff, law enforcement officers and prosecutors. 

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Patti Powers presented "Prosecution of Cold Cases of Sexual Assault" and "Overcoming the Consent Defense: Prosecuting the Non-Stranger Rapist" on behalf of RTI International in Des Moines, Iowa to an audience of prosecutors.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented "Ethical Considerations in Human Trafficking Cases" on behalf of the Pennsylvania State Police, Office of Homeland Security at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented "Going Forward Without the Victim: Evidence-Based Prosecution of Domestic Violence" and "Integrating a Trauma-Informed Response" on behalf of the City of Manchester in Manchester, New Hampshire to an audience of prosecutors, law enforcement, systems-based advocates, and community-based advocates.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor John Wilkinson presented "Overview of Criminal Justice System and Gender-Based Violence" on behalf of the American Bar Association, Rule of Law Initiative in Washington D.C.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Patti Powers presented "Overcoming the Consent Defense: Prosecuting the Non-Stranger Rapist" on behalf of RTI International in Richmond, Virginia to an audience of dual sexual assault/domestic violence program staff, government agency staff, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and victim-witness specialists.  

AEquitas Attorney Advisors Vikki Kristiansson and Jonathan Kurland presented "Higher Education: Confronting the Reality of Sexual Assault," "Strangulation Injury," and "Improving the Justice System Response to Witness Intimidation" on behalf of Safe Berks in Reading, Pennsylvania.

AEquitas CEO Jennifer Long held a panel discussion on the intersection of domestic violence and human trafficking on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office Against Women.

AEquitas Attorney Advisor Jane Anderson presented "Supporting Victims and Improving Prosecutions for Undocumented Victims and/or Victims with U Visas" on behalf of the Family Justice Cetner and the National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project (NIWAP) in Montgomery County, Maryland to an audience of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and victim-witness specialists.