Testifying in court is a process that can cause anxiety, even for the most seasoned professional. Understanding how to discuss the forensic interview protocol, our multidisciplinary team processes and the research that supports them is a critical skill. This training will discuss commonly broached topics in the court process, how to practically prepare for court, how to defend practice in
A child just disclosed sexual abuse to you. What do you tell the child? Do you know your legal obligations? How can you respond without jeopardizing criminal investigations and the child’s safety? This workshop, presented by a former prosecutor, addresses several hypotheticals, discusses trauma-informed best practices for interacting with abused and neglected children, and reviews mandatory reporting law.
It is incumbent on teams and interviewers to prepare our forensic interview process to meet the needs of the child sitting before us in the interview room. This training will discuss issues of accessibility in the forensic interview process with regard to language facilitation and the use of interpreters in the forensic interview.
The purpose of this presentation is to inform audience members about major advances in terms of evidence collection and processing as it relates to instances of child homicide, child sexual abuse, and other forms of child abuse and neglect. Discussions pertaining to advances in the field will be addressed, alongside criticisms of the field and concerns for the future landscape
This workshop provides prosecutors with a comprehensive overview of jury selection purposes and strategies, including pre-voir dire investigative tips, developing an authentic approach to juries, addressing juror myths, building case themes in child abuse cases, sample questions, and related closing considerations.
This workshop equips prosecutors with strategies to prepare forensic interviewers for trial and maximize the utility and effectiveness of their testimony. Attendees will learn how to construct the direct examination of a forensic interviewer, with an emphasis on forensic interview admissibility considerations and how interviewer testimony sets up the cross-examination of defense experts. The presentation concludes with ten areas for
This workshop summarizes the history of developing MDTs in the United States and then, armed with that history, discusses the ten greatest challenges facing MDTs today and offers concrete suggestions for MDTs in meeting these challenges
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACES) indicates to us that 66% of children experiencing one adverse childhood experience will be experiencing at least one other. Recognizing the prevalence of polyvictimization, this training will better prepare forensic interviewers to appropriately respond to disclosures of multiple forms of maltreatment in the forensic interview and screen for forms of maltreatment not previously disclosed.
In this workshop students will learn of the importance of effective strategies and themes for opening statements and closing arguments in child abuse cases. Students will learn a theme for presenting their case. They will learn specific arguments to persuade a jury that a child is telling the truth. They will learn to debunk common defenses in child abuse cases.
Children recant for a number of reasons. If prosecutors routinely dismiss cases involving recanting victims, these children and other children may not be safe. If children do not disclose having been sexually abused, they may not be able to overcome the trauma of the abuse. Furthermore, child sexual abusers may take the threat of prosecution less seriously. This presentation will
This training will discuss strategies for organizing forensic interviews with young children, specifically looking at what to do when multiple forms of maltreatment or multiple incidents are disclosed within the same interview. It will also cover linguistic strategies for interviewing young children.
In this workshop, students will learn the keys to a successful cross-examination. They will learn how to prepare and gain a thorough understanding of the case including the evidence to be presented by both sides, drafting cross-examination topics and questions, and understanding the limitations of cross-examination. Finally, students will learn concrete examples of how to box the witness into a
Many defense attorneys attempt to deflect juror attention away from a child’s allegations of abuse by attacking the manner in which the child was interviewed. The implicit or explicit claim is that the interviewer purposefully or unwittingly planted the allegation of abuse in the child’s mind. Fearful of the anticipated attack on the investigative interview, some prosecutors decline to file
A former prosecutor provides suggestions and resources equipping forensic interviewers to start and engage in productive conversations with their local prosecutor in advance of trial. This workshop will address effective approaches, courtroom preparation, clarification of witness roles, and critical areas of emphasis.
How do you escape traps on cross-examination? How can you avoid them? Can you recover from mistakes in testimony? This workshop will equip MDT members, especially CPS workers and forensic interviewers, with practical tools and tactical insight to succeed in the stressful environment of courtroom testimony. The presentation includes multimedia components and integration of hypotheticals to illustrate principles, and will
In this workshop, students will learn to develop a coordinated, multi-disciplinary response to an allegation of child abuse. Employ creative methods for finding corroborating evidence cases of physical and sexual abuse. Investigate cases of failure to thrive and other forms of neglect. Assess sexual abuse allegations involving children with special needs. Methods for preparing children for court and tchniques for
In this workshop, students will learn about the dynamics of the forensic interview process. They will gain an understanding about memory and suggestibility and the proper interviewing techniques that will assist them in the forensic interviewing process.
This dynamic workshop will explore how to prove sexual abuse in pre/non-verbal children through combining brief statements from children with behavioral and brain research. The difficulties of substantiating abuse among preschool children will also be explored and students will learn methods to overcome these obstacles and secure justice for more of these vulnerable children.
Students will learn creative strategies for empowering children to effectively handle the stress of testifying in court. Students will also learn of creative pre-trial motions and other strategies to modify the courtroom and the procedures of testifying to reduce the stress level of child witnesses.
There is corroborating evidence in every case of child abuse, including cases of sexual abuse. Using actual vignettes, the presenter helps attendees see corroborating evidence that is almost always present but often missed. Working as team, students will learn to tear apart a child’s statement and find the corroborating physical evidence in cases of child sexual abuse.
Neglect is a broad concept covering many types of maltreatment. Neglect may include depriving a child of necessary food, clothing, medical care, supervision, education, dental care, and psychological care. It may include exposing a child to drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, and other harmful practices or substances. Because neglect is so broad, it is the most common type of child abuse.
In this workshop, students will learn to address juvenile sex offenders at the investigation, prosecution and treatment stages. Analyzing current research and practices; this workshop offers suggestions and guidelines to address the needs of juvenile sex offenders, their victims and society. This workshop also addresses the differing viewpoints concerning the prosecution and treatment of child sex offenders and seeks to
Forensic interviews provide a wealth of corroborative leads for investigators, as well as critical developmental information and abuse dynamics. This workshop, presented by a former prosecutor and forensic psychologist, teaches students to leverage forensic interviews at trial and throughout child abuse investigations, including implications for suspect interviews, expert witness testimony, closing arguments, and cross-examination.
Online child exploitation was increasing before the COVID-19 crisis, and reports have greatly escalated since this outbreak. Investigation and prosecution of technology-facilitated crimes against children must be prioritized in this new era. This webinar, presented by a former prosecutor, reviews pertinent challenges, discusses best practices for prosecutorial response, and provides practical guidance to practitioners.
Recantation is not a death blow to a prosecution; in fact, many child sexual abuse cases have been won by prosecutors when the child victim recanted, or was nonverbal. Learn the facts about recantation even in confirmed cases of child sexual abuse, and develop strategies to prevent recantation, minimize its effects, support victims throughout the judicial process, and succeed at
Zero Abuse Project is a 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to the elimination of child sexual abuse. Our programs are designed to provide training and education to professionals and students, and to help transform institutions to effectively prevent, recognize and respond to child sexual abuse.
