Feature articles present a glossary of professional terms used in sexual assault cases, the Justice Innovation Center's report on agency needs, and one community's anti-drug and alcohol abuse message.
"Online Glossary Helps Professionals 'Speak the Same Language' About Sexual Assault" profiles a glossary developed by the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) based on input from multidisciplinary subject-matter experts. The glossary will continue to be updated. In order to access the glossary, visit https://www.forensiccoe.org/Our-Impact/Focusing-on-Special-Initiatives/Sexual-Assault/The-Multidisciplinary-Sexual-Assault-Glossary. "Justice Innovation Center Produces Report on Agency Needs" focuses on the Center's effort to identify the needs and challenges of criminal justice agencies in small, rural, and border areas, since they lack a centralized voice to influence the development of technologies and other solutions to address their distinctive challenges; and to date, relatively little research has examined these agencies' needs. The report developed includes a literature review, in-depth interviews with practitioners and topical experts, and discussions with an advisory panel of expert practitioners. The report is available at https://www.justnet.org/about/jic-reports.html. "Cranford Community Embraces Anti-Drug and Alcohol Abuse Message" focuses on the Cranford Police Department's (New Jersey) use of its school resource officers (SROs) to lead a community-wide effort to address drug and alcohol abuse among youth. Working in cooperation with the Cranford Board of Education, SROs have refined and expanded the curriculum of Project A.L.E.R.T. (Adolescent Learning Experience Resistance Training) in launching a community-wide effort that begins with sixth-grade education classes. This effort replaces the D.A.R.E. program operating at the time.