Informal resolution is an umbrella term, covering a range of processes and practices considered alternative to adjudication in cases of dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS) at institutions of higher education. Often including pathways such as mediation, restorative justice, and shuttle negotiation or facilitation, informal resolutions are sometimes referred to as adaptable or alternative resolutions. Despite their name, these processes require no less intentionality than those involving investigation or hearings to respond effectively to sex and gender-based harm.
Category: Law Enforcement and Security
Designing and Implementing Informal Resolutions: Key Considerations for Colleges and Universities
Assessing for Informal Resolution Opportunities in Domestic and Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Cases
When it comes to responding to dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS) on college campuses, what constitutes a “good case” for an informal resolution process (IRP)? The reality is that whether an IRP, as opposed to an investigation and decision-making model, serves the involved parties becomes less about the incident itself and more about aligning with the unique needs of those directly involved and the needs of the broader institutional community.
Glossary of Criminal Justice Terms for Campus Partners
Understanding is critical to ensure successful communication between campus public safety/law enforcement and coordinated community response team (CCRT) members. Communication between partners allows for a more expedient and trauma informed response to all Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking (DVSAS) crimes. We hope this glossary is a valuable resource for sharing knowledge and ensuring all partners have a common understanding of terms and concepts specific to campus public safety/law enforcement.
Glossary of Criminal Justice Terms for Campus Partners
Understanding is critical to ensure successful communication between campus public safety/law enforcement and coordinated community response team (CCRT) members. Communication between partners allows for a more expedient and trauma-informed response to all Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (DVSAS) crimes. We hope this glossary is a valuable resource for sharing knowledge and ensuring all partners have a common understanding of terms and concepts specific to campus public safety/law enforcement.
Who Watches the Watchers: Domestic Violence and Law Enforcement
The average messaging of most anti-violence organizations include some variation on the following: “If you are in immediate danger, call 911.” Embedded in directing a victim of violence to call 911 is a key assumption—that law enforcement will make that person safer. But the headlines regularly feature stories of law enforcement officers accused of abuse: of their own partners, the victims they’re supposed to be helping, and incarcerated survivors of violence.
Check out this blog post from NSVRC.
Campus-Community Partnerships: Coordinating a Comprehensive Trauma-Informed Response to Sexual Violence
Sexual violence on college and university campuses is a complex issue requiring collaboration and integrated approaches to support survivors. Approaches that engage the entire community in addressing sexual assault on campus are essential. Partnerships between various campus programs and departments and community-based resources help ensure access for members of the college community, including those who have experienced sexual violence, to much needed resources, strengthen the accountability of institutions to the community, increase knowledge about the impact of sexual assault on campus, and link community-based advocacy resources with campuses. This web conference is for campus administrators and advocates interested in expanding their partnerships to support survivors and address sexual violence both on and off campus.
Restorative Justice: Exploring Alternative Ways of Achieving Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors on Campus
Sexual assault survivors have long desired alternatives to the criminal justice system which often leaves them feeling unheard. Accountability for those who do harm is the core of what survivors want. The Restorative Justice approach provides survivors with an alternative justice process that depends on an acknowledgement of harm from the perpetrator from the beginning. It facilitates communities coming together for collective solutions to address sexual violence.
Spanish recording: https://youtu.be/I362ZrPmUec
Successful Trauma Informed Victim Interviewing
OVW TA provider, IACP is pleased to announce the publication of a new resource for law enforcement and others who interview victims, the “Successful Trauma Informed Victim Interviewing” document. This document demonstrates how trauma-informed interview techniques can be used to reframe interview questions that may be perceived by a victim as blaming them for their actions in a manner that helps victims retrieve memories from a traumatic event and assists law enforcement in gathering more information while making the victim feel more supported.
Sample MOU Between Campus and Local Law Enforcement Agencies
On the week that marked the one-year anniversary of President Obama establishing the White House Task Force to Protect Students, the White House released a document entitled, “Building Partnerships among Law Enforcement Agencies, Colleges and Universities: Developing a Memorandum of Understanding to Prevent and Respond Effectively to Sexual Assault at Colleges and Universities” that provides sample language that may help institutions of higher education and local law enforcement agencies as they formulate or update an MOU.
Blueprint for Campus Police: Responding to Sexual Assault
The University of Texas Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault published its Blueprint for Campus Police: Responding to Sexual Assault. Police officers at all 14 University of Texas campuses will soon be trained to follow the toolkit’s new investigative protocols aimed at changing how campus law enforcement officers interview and support victims of sexual assault. We encourage you to disseminate the report, which can now be found on notalone.gov, widely to any stakeholders who might be interested.