Trauma Informed Response to Victims of Crime

The goal of this training program is to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement to provide effective response to victims of domestic/sexual assault and stalking.  At the completion of the training, law enforcement officers will be able to describe how traumatic experiences impact victim memory, reactions and behavior, and how officer interpretation of this behavior impacts sexual assault investigations. The course will examine strategies to gather information and work with victims to facilitate trust and communication. The students will review practices that postpone judgment regarding the validity of a case until a thorough investigation is completed and to recognize potential sources of officer bias and ways to mitigate its impact on reports.