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There is currently a very welcome national trend across the country emphasizing alternative reporting methods for sexual assault victims. It is partly the result of provisions in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that were first enacted in 2005 and remain in effect under the current 2013 re-authorization. This is an area known as forensic compliance, and it is critically important to… (read more)

This document was created to provide law enforcement guidance when developing policies and procedures for the retention, disposition, and/or removal of evidence. While law enforcement agencies typically have appropriate policies and procedures for evidence in general, most do not specifically address the types of evidence often found in a sexual assault case. This document also addresses evidence… (read more)

When people experience trauma, they go through a process that many professionals - as well as the individuals themselves - do not understand. For example, most of us were trained to believe that when an individual experiences a traumatic event, the brain records the majority of the details investigators need, or want to know, about the event: Who, What, Where, Why, When and How? Unfortunately,… (read more)

When people experience trauma, they go through a process that many professionals - as well as the individuals themselves - do not understand. For example, most of us were trained to believe that when an individual experiences a traumatic event, the brain records the majority of the details investigators need, or want to know, about the event: Who, What, Where, Why, When and How? Unfortunately,… (read more)

The OLTI provides free, state-of-the art training to anyone who is interested, on the topic of criminal justice response to sexual assault. The OLTI offers the opportunity for interested professionals to expand their knowledge of cutting edge developments in the criminal justice and community response to sexual assault, with particular emphasis on those crimes committed by someone who is known to… (read more)

This is the third training bulletin in a series on alternative reporting methods. This installment continues to introduce key concepts and components with a focus on third party reporting procedures for victims.

This is the third training bulletin in a series on alternative reporting methods. This installment continues to introduce key concepts and components with a focus on third party reporting procedures for victims.

This is the second installment in a series exploring alternative reporting methods. The previous installment provided an overview of alternative reporting. This bulletin continues to introduce key concepts and components with a focus on non-investigative reporting.

This is the second installment in a series exploring alternative reporting methods. The previous installment provided an overview of alternative reporting. This bulletin continues to introduce key concepts and components with a focus on non-investigative reporting.

This training bulletin is the seventh in a series designed to explore alternative reporting methods. Previous bulletins have provided an introduction to the essential concepts and explored some key components for implementation. This installment discusses the issue of evidence storage and retention. EVAWI staff are frequently asked questions about this topic and begin by discussing how long… (read more)

This training bulletin is the seventh in a series designed to explore alternative reporting methods. Previous bulletins have provided an introduction to the essential concepts and explored some key components for implementation. This installment discusses the issue of evidence storage and retention. EVAWI staff are frequently asked questions about this topic and begin by discussing how long… (read more)

This training bulletin is the first in a series designed to explore the key issues related to VAWA forensic compliance and alternative reporting methods for sexual assault victims.  The first installment will begin by introducing the key terms and concepts associated with alternative reporting methods and VAWA forensic compliance. Subsequent bulletins will highlight two communities that have… (read more)

This training bulletin is the first in a series designed to explore the key issues related to VAWA forensic compliance and alternative reporting methods for sexual assault victims.  The first installment will begin by introducing the key terms and concepts associated with alternative reporting methods and VAWA forensic compliance. Subsequent bulletins will highlight two communities that have… (read more)

This training bulletin is the fifth in a series designed to explore alternative reporting methods. The previous installment introduced the essential terms and concepts, as well as two communities that have successfully implemented alternative reporting methods. This bulletin begins to examine key components associated with implementation and highlights the importance of developing a… (read more)

This training bulletin is the fifth in a series designed to explore alternative reporting methods. The previous installment introduced the essential terms and concepts, as well as two communities that have successfully implemented alternative reporting methods. This bulletin begins to examine key components associated with implementation and highlights the importance of developing a… (read more)

This training bulletin is the eighth in a series designed to explore alternative reporting methods. Previous bulletins have provided an introduction to the essential terms, concepts and components of implementation and this bulletin will discuss what to do when a victim elects to convert to a standard reporting procedure.

This training bulletin is the eighth in a series designed to explore alternative reporting methods. Previous bulletins have provided an introduction to the essential terms, concepts and components of implementation and this bulletin will discuss what to do when a victim elects to convert to a standard reporting procedure.

This is the final training bulletin in a series exploring alternative reporting methods. This last installment concludes by providing additional recommendations for best practices when implementing such options in your community.

This is the final training bulletin in a series exploring alternative reporting methods. This last installment concludes by providing additional recommendations for best practices when implementing such options in your community.

This training bulletin is the ninth in a series designed to explore alternative reporting methods. The last two installments will explore a number of recommendations for best practice when implementing such options in your community.

This training bulletin is the ninth in a series designed to explore alternative reporting methods. The last two installments will explore a number of recommendations for best practice when implementing such options in your community.

This webinar reviews current forensic psycho-physiological knowledge and practices, comparing what we think we know with new and exciting research and ideas for what we could do. Using the forensic experiential trauma interview (FETI) approach, we can gather the best possible evidence by interviewing victims in ways that empower and calm them, so they are able to provide more accurate, coherent,… (read more)

EVAWI Executive Director Joanne Archambault and Board President Roger Canaff discuss victim interviewing. The single most important factor in determining the success of the victim interview is the attitude of respect and professionalism conveyed by the law enforcement professional. Therefore, it is critical for law enforcement to establish rapport and respectful communication in order to conduct… (read more)

Victims of sexual assault will often undergo sexual assault medical forensic examinations (SAMFEs) following an assault and may also receive other medical treatment for physical and emotional injuries suffered. The majority of jurisdictions provide for partial or complete payment of a victim's health care costs in such cases. Many professionals have questions about the laws in their own state or… (read more)

Victims of sexual assault will often undergo sexual assault medical forensic examinations (SAMFEs) following an assault and may also receive other medical treatment for physical and emotional injuries suffered. The majority of jurisdictions provide for partial or complete payment of a victim's health care costs in such cases. Many professionals have questions about the laws in their own state or… (read more)

Start by Believing is a public awareness campaign uniquely focused on the public response to sexual assault. Because a friend or family member is typically the first person a victim confides in after an assault, each individual's personal reaction is the first step in a long path toward justice and healing. Knowing how to respond is critical as a negative response can worsen the trauma and foster… (read more)

Victims of sexual assault will often undergo sexual assault medical forensic examinations (SAMFEs) following an assault and may also receive other medical treatment for physical and emotional injuries suffered. The majority of jurisdictions provide for partial or complete payment of a victim's health care costs in such cases. Many professionals have questions about the laws in their own state or… (read more)

This training bulletin is the sixth in a series designed to explore alternative reporting methods. Earlier installments introduced the key terms and concepts, as well as two communities that have successfully implemented alternative reporting methods. The bulletins also examined the importance of developing a multidisciplinary response protocol. The current installment discusses the practice of… (read more)

This training bulletin is the sixth in a series designed to explore alternative reporting methods. Earlier installments introduced the key terms and concepts, as well as two communities that have successfully implemented alternative reporting methods. The bulletins also examined the importance of developing a multidisciplinary response protocol. The current installment discusses the practice of… (read more)

This is the fourth installment in a series of training bulletins exploring alternative reporting methods for victims of sexual assault. Previous installments provided an overview of the key terms and concepts of alternative reporting. This bulletin introduces you to two communities that have done an excellent job of developing and implementing alternative reporting options for victims of sexual… (read more)

This is the fourth installment in a series of training bulletins exploring alternative reporting methods for victims of sexual assault. Previous installments provided an overview of the key terms and concepts of alternative reporting. This bulletin introduces you to two communities that have done an excellent job of developing and implementing alternative reporting options for victims of sexual… (read more)