U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Courts

Just Trauma-Informed Approaches and Advocacy for Vulnerable Populations

April 2022

In the final episode of our 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with Natasha Alexenko, a sexual assault survivor, advocate, author, and founder of Natasha's Justice Project, to discuss advocacy for vulnerable populations and trauma-informed approaches to sexual assault. As a sexual assault survivor and advocate, Natasha Alexenko has dedicated her career to improving the lives of sexual assault survivors. She has worked both nationally and internationally to discuss past, present, and future directions for an improved response to sexual assault.

Just Sexual Assault Response and Supporting Vulnerable Populations

April 2022

In episode one of our 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with Mary Weston, the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Supervisor of the Cold Case Unit, and Project Manager of the Sexual Assault Kit Task Force at Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office to discuss sexual assault response with vulnerable populations. Different challenges may arise when prosecuting sexual assault cases involving vulnerable populations, including cases with male victims.

Off

3D Firearm Imaging: Testimony and Admissibility

September 2024

This video is one of four from the Virtual Workshop Series: 3D Firearm Imaging, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence from August 21 to September 11, 2024. This series is intended for firearm examiners or soon-to-be firearm examiners working in laboratories that have recently adopted 3D Firearm Imaging or are considering its adoption soon.

This video includes two presentations - 

Virtual Workshop: Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals – The Daubert Standard

North Carolina State University and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence host a two-part virtual workshop series on the Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals. This workshop series discusses topics surrounding qualifications of expert witnesses in forensic disciplines under both the Daubert and the Frye standards.

This page presents the sessions related to the Daubert standard. (View the sessions related to the...

Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals – The Frye Standard

North Carolina State University and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted a two-part virtual workshop series on the Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals. This workshop series discusses topics surrounding qualifications of expert witnesses in forensic disciplines under both the Daubert and the Frye standards.

This page presents the sessions related to the Frye standard. (View the sessions related to the...

Low Prosecution Rates in Sexual Assault Cases: Can We Make Sustainable Improvements?

April 2023

Dr. Julie L. Valentine provides background information on the challenges in tracking prosecution outcomes in sexual assault cases of adult victims. Research utilizing the National Institute of Justice Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Practitioner Toolkit in two Utah counties is presented. Variables predicting prosecution are be explored. Participants are invited to consider societal, structural, and legislative barriers to prosecution of adult sexual assault cases faced in their jurisdiction to encourage multidisciplinary collaboration.