You can use the filters on the to browse the full scope of training Zero Abuse Project is able to offer for your organization. Please note that the On Demand filter can be used to quickly identify our trainings that have been pre-recorded and are available to watch. Most other trainings are available for organizations to book on a fee-for-service basis.
Through our Trauma-informed Prosecutor Project, we are able to offer a select menu of trainings for Prosecutors and other MDT members at no cost. Please select the Trauma-informed Prosecutor Project filter to view these trainings.
If you are an individual seeking training, please visit our Events & Training Calendar to view and register for upcoming trainings hosted by Zero Abuse Project. Unfortunately, Zero Abuse Project cannot book an individual’s request for training.
One of the most critical aspects of a successful trial is the rapport between prosecutor and child. This workshop, presented by a former prosecutor, addresses several hypotheticals, discusses trauma-informed best practices for interacting with abused and neglected children, and reviews courtroom accommodations and trial strategies to support child witnesses.
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.
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, gathering sample questions, and closing considerations.
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
This workshop provides prosecutors and multidisciplinary team members with an understanding of polyvictimization, with an emphasis on the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child abuse. The presentation will also discuss the effects of domestic violence on children, protective factors, screening considerations, and implications for investigation and prosecution.
In many cases of child sexual and physical abuse, perpetrators use religious or spiritual themes to justify their abuse of a child. Although no known religion in modern culture suggests that sexual abuse is condoned or taught as part of its tenets, some church leaders engage in conduct suggesting the child is equally, if not more to blame than the
Online child exploitation was increasing before the COVID-19 crisis, and reports have greatly escalated since the outbreak. Investigation and prosecution of technology-facilitated crimes against children must be prioritized in the new era. This webinar, presented by a former prosecutor, reviews pertinent challenges, discusses best practices for prosecutorial response, and provides practical guidance to practitioners.
From parallel reality to virtual reality, things are not what they seem. This workshop surveys emerging technological issues, their implications for child exploitation, and the starting points for legal and investigative response.
Recantation is not a death blow to a prosecution. In fact, many child sexual abuse cases have been won by prosecutors even when the child victim recanted or was nonverbal. Learn the facts about recantation 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
This workshop, presented by a former prosecutor, discusses investigative uses of emojis, particularly in the context of child exploitation and undercover operations, and the legal context of this growing medium, including current case law and implications for practice. The presentation reviews perpetrator themes and online grooming strategies, with illustrations and chat samples from recent cases.
To effectively investigate and prosecute child abuse cases, practitioners must understand the impact of trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) on children. This workshop offers suggestions for working with traumatized children in the context of a criminal case, and for developing a holistic approach to addressing victim needs.
Many investigators, CPS workers, prosecutors, and other MDT members handle massive caseloads that greatly exceed recommended maximum ranges. This workshop, presented by a former prosecutor and psychologist, provides tips and tricks to upgrade case management and workflow for the overwhelmed child protection professional, including free tools, psychological insights, and easily-implemented strategies to accomplish more with the little time you have.
Learn psychological insights and practical strategies to exploit Internet sex offender dynamics. Discover how to apply what we know of solicitation and child pornography offenders in a variety of settings, including conducting proactive operations or pretext phone calls, crafting undercover personas, and interviewing perpetrators. This workshop, presented by prosecutors and a forensic psychologist, includes an analysis of actual chats from
This workshop examines best practices in search warrant drafting, including common pitfalls and exigency considerations. Presented by prosecutors and cybercrime attorneys, this workshop also addresses selection of appropriate legal process, reviewing search warrants for potential defects, and working with service providers to obtain data.
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.
Learn the key components of cross-examination, including question drafting, impeachment, controlling witnesses, and flexible strategies to expose defendants and adverse witnesses. Presented by a former prosecutor, this workshop goes beyond theory to provide practical approaches and mock examinations for students to swiftly apply in their cases.
The tragedy of youth sexually abusing other children is frequently encountered by prosecutors and other multidisciplinary team members, yet it poses significant and persistent challenges. This workshop provides pertinent research and practical strategies for the effective, appropriate investigation and prosecution of juvenile offenders, alongside treatment considerations and appropriate intervention strategies for children with sexual behavior problems.
This workshop will explore several technological concepts with relevance to the investigation and prosecution of technology-facilitated child abuse, including the basic functions and structure of the internet, common applications and platforms, the dark web and anonymization trends, and the proliferation of online child sexual exploitation.
This workshop addresses the nuances of child sexual abuse prosecutions through a complex case study. Topics include pretrial motions, preparing a child for courtroom testimony, voir dire, direct and cross-examinations, opening and closing statements, and jury considerations.
Every child sexual abuse case has corroborating evidence, but often child protection professionals do not fully develop this critical piece. Further, diverse online platforms are now utilized for exploitive purposes, the quantity of child sexual abuse material in existence has skyrocketed, and offender strategies continue to increase in sophistication. This workshop will focus on several underutilized avenues of corroboration, with
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
A basic understanding of digital forensics is critical to a prosecutor’s assessment of evidence, guidance of child exploitation investigations, and courtroom performance. This workshop will define key terms and processes in the field of digital forensics, explore key forensic artifacts, and discuss legal challenges surrounding mobile devices and other evidentiary sources.
This workshop will review tactical and substantive considerations while conducting direct examinations of digital forensic examiners in child exploitation cases. Instruction will include trial preparation strategies, jury considerations, and live demonstration of direct examination excerpts.
This workshop will explore six common defenses in cases involving child sexual abuse material. Instruction will focus on investigative and prosecutorial response to these defenses, as well as contextualizing and/or refuting defense mitigation arguments at sentencing.
This workshop will equip multidisciplinary teams with practical investigative and prosecutorial strategies for technology-facilitated child abuse cases. Topics include systemic best practices for conducting abuse investigations, locating potential sources of corroborative evidence, understanding offender communication strategies, and utilizing hearsay exceptions.
Zero Abuse Project is a 501(c)(3) organization 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.
