Survivor centered lens critical for law enforcement

July 21, 2011 |
Valor

How first responders and law enforcement interact with survivors of sexual violence are crucial for campuses working to create safer learning environments.

Survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating/relationship violence and stalking navigate myriad systems, social stigma and range of emotions after experience violence.  The decisions a survivor makes as they cope are further impacted by their encounters with others.  How first responders, such as law enforcement personnel, interact with survivors of sexual violence have a tremendous impact on both the individual and institutional levels.
On Tuesday, July 26, grantees of the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women grant to reduce sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking on campus will come together for a webinar on “Survivor Centered Training for First Responders and Law Enforcement.” Teresa White-Walston, Director of Education, at Women Organized Against Rape in Philadelphia, will facilitate the webinar where she will address key concepts that campus communities should consider when training campus security/law enforcement.
Materials from the training will be made available to the public following the training.