Fourth Annual Conference
Responding to the Needs of Victims:
Featuring: Nationally recognized experts Anne Munch, Esq. & Kim Case
Anne Munch, Esq.
Meeting the “Consent” defense
“Consent” is the most common and most successfully utilized defense in non-stranger sexual assault cases. Traditional practices of investigating, prosecuting and responding to sexual assault cases often overlook evidence and strategies that are critical to obtaining justice. Examining both the legal and common-sense definitions of consent is a critical starting point for building successful investigations and prosecutions. This session examines topics such as how to talk with survivors about consent in a way that can assist their understanding of, how to document and corroborate the lack of consent, how focusing on offender conduct and highlighting victim’s experience translates into meaningful reports and prosecutions, and the role of alcohol and drugs on the question of consent. The course will be interactive and innovative, includes a combination of lecture, exercises and power point and will provide participants with strategies they can use in their work. It is beneficial for all audiences.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will obtain a working understanding of both legal and common sense definitions of “consent”.
2. Participants will understand how to build a case by micro-examining and understanding what “no” looked like as experienced by the victim, as well as how to corroborate that experience.
3. Participants will understand the importance of an offender focused investigation designed to expose critical evidence that corroborates criminal intent on the part of the offender and take blame off of victim
Un-poisoning the Well; Examining and Confronting Opinion and Bias in Sexual Assault Cases
The influence of societal attitude ranks high among the many challenges we face in sexual assault cases. Commonly held beliefs about victims, offenders and the meaning of consent all play important roles in how sexual assault cases are understood and handled in our culture. In many ways, we have been “coached” to blame victims for crimes committed against them. This interactive and high-spirited session will examine what influences on people who interface with victims and offenders in our criminal justice system. Strategies for examining and explaining double standards and misinformation, investigations, jury selection and effective victim advocacy will be highlighted. Anne Munch’s common-sense approach provides learning opportunities that everyone can take back to their work.
Learning Objectives:
1. The participants will understand the role that our culture plays in influencing how we think and assign responsibility in cases involving sexual assault.
2. The participants will learn effective strategies to challenge double standards and stereotypes that often cripple our responses to victims, our investigation and prosecution efforts in sexual assault cases.
Kim Case
Stolen in the Dark, a Case Study: The Pathway from Tragedy to Triumph.
In this moving account, Kim shares details of the kidnapping and assaults that nearly took her life. Bound by handcuffs, and held hostage for nearly 16 hours, Kim recounts the horrors endured while struggling to survive. Expressed through video and personal storytelling, Kim honors the men and women who’ve helped her move to a place of triumph after the miraculous escape. This is a story that instructs, informs and inspires!
1. Define victimization and understand, through use of a case study, the varying needs of crime victims. Told through film and personal storytelling:
• Making sense of the many types of victimization and sharing a personal account of how the criminal justice system can hurt or help the victim’s recovery process.
2. Identify strategies for responders which encourage resiliency:
• Utilizing a first-person account participants will learn to compare and contrast the responses of the three separate jurisdictions involved in this case study to determine useful methods of interacting with victims of crime.
3. Discuss resources and list key components of a trauma informed response:
• Learn the elements of bonding that occur between victims and offenders and understand how this, along with a trauma response, affects the investigation
• Discuss local resources, partnerships and collaborative task force models
Continuing Legal Education - Pending Approval
CPE (Continuing Professional Education) with CSWMFT Board for Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists - Pending Approval
Hilton Akron/Fairlawn 3180 West Market Street Akron Ohio 44333
FREE PARKING!
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROVIDED
For any questions regarding the event order form please contact Ben Sliwa at sliwa@prosecutor.summitoh.net or (330) 643 -7190.