This new, two-day course unpacks child abuse cases in which juries believe a child victim but struggle to understand their behaviors or the science of trauma. The use of expert witnesses in the prosecution’s case-in-chief can have a profound impact on jurors’ ability to process and interpret evidence in a light most favorable to the child victim. This course will provide insight into the types of expert witnesses that can assist the prosecution as well as strategies for presenting this testimony. Attendees will craft and deliver direct examinations of experts and receive feedback from Zero Abuse faculty.
Dates of the next course offerings are still to be determined. Interested prosecutors can join the waitlist below to be notified when more information is available.
Sample Agenda
Day One
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. | Welcome and Introductions |
| 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. | We’re Just Going to Talk: From Opening to Closing |
| 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Opening/Closing Work Block |
| 11:30 – 12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Opening Exercises |
| 2:30 – 2:45 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. | Jury Selection in Child Abuse Cases |
| 4:15 – 5:00 p.m. | Intro to Jury Selection Exercise and Jury Questionnaire |
Day Two
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Work Block for July Selection |
| 10:00 – 12:00 p.m. | Jury Selection Exercise |
| 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 – 2:45 p.m. | Effective Presentation of Child Abuse Cases to a Jury: An Updated Multi-Media Approach |
| 2:45 – 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. | Exhibit Exercise |
Day Three
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. | When the Smoke Clears |
| 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Expert Roundtable: Forensic Interviewing, DNA, Forensic Technology |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. | Cross-Examination of Defendants and Defense Witnesses |
| 1:30 – 1:45 p.m. | Break |
| 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. | Work Block: Cross-Examination of Defendants |
| 2:45 – 5:00 p.m. | Cross-Examination of Defendants Exercise |
Day Four
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. | Exercises: Closing Arguments |
| 10:15 – 10:25 a.m. | Break |
| 10:25 – 11:30 a.m. | No Perfect Victim: Overcoming Jury Bias with Difficult Kids |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
Testimonials
“You don’t always get to surround yourself in a training of this type with prosecutors who have as much experience specifically in child abuse cases as those that did at this training and to also have the time to listen to feedback and converse about ideas.”
“I sincerely appreciated this course as a course for more experienced prosecutors who handle these cases regularly. There are other trial advocacy courses, but my issue with them is that they are usually a general topic like DWI’s to have one specifically dedicated to child abuse is such a great resource on such a difficult subject matter.”
“It was a great experience. I am grateful to Zero Abuse and all you do to equip boots on the ground with the skills they need to combat child abuse.”
