The training goals generally for the stalking curriculum are:

• To enable the participants to recognize stalking and stalking behaviors.
• To enable the participants to more effectively investigate stalking and cyber-stalking.
• To enable participants to more knowledgeable consider the safety of victims.

Stalking is a course of conduct that involves a broad range of behavior directed at a victim. The conduct can be as varied as the stalker’s imagination and ability to take actions that harass, frighten, threaten, and/or force himself or herself into the life and consciousness of a victim. In a vast majority of femicide cases, one episode of stalking occurs within 12 months prior to the murder.

We explore factors that often complicate law enforcement-victim advocate relationships: differences in professional cultures and gender-related beliefs. We offer an insider’s view on law enforcement culture, and examine both disciplines through the “lens” of gender. Recommendations for enhancing law enforcement-victim advocate relationships are presented.

These sessions are offered to victim advocates, law enforcement, and allied criminal justice and social service personnel.

1. Participants will be able to articulate the effects of police culture and its influence on advocates’ ability to establish and maintain relationships with law enforcement.
2. Participants will have an enhanced understanding of gender socialization, as well as the effect that gender can play in victim advocate-law enforcement relationships.
3. Participants will learn new strategies to assist in developing and enhancing relationships between advocates and law enforcement.

This topic area explores the distinctive nature of violence against Native women, as well as a “best practice” approach by law enforcement in responding to these crimes. The dynamics of violent victimization, specific investigative practices, and the central role of policy will also be discussed.

1. Participants will be able to describe the distinctive rates, correlates, and consequences of violence against women in Indian Country.
2. Participants will demonstrate an understanding of established best practice approaches to law enforcement investigation of this category of crime.
3. Participants will have an enhanced appreciation for the role of victim dynamics in these crimes.

When responding to and dealing with crimes of violence against women and domestic violence in particular, law enforcement relies on traditional training, policies and practices that are more aligned with determining probable cause and making an arrest. From a law enforcement perspective our service delivery is typically on a case-by-case or single incident response basis. This session explores how law enforcement can shift our perspective from incident based to contextual based approaches, looking at the totality of the circumstances to determine the predominant aggressor. Additionally, there will be a discussion on why dual arrests take place and the impact those actions have on victims and the judicial process.

While Officer Perpetrated Domestic Violence (OPDV) has received increasing attention, there is little systematic understanding of this phenomenon. We will review the extant literature on OPDV, and existing gaps in knowledge will be identified. We will also discuss the unique dynamics of OPDV, which include the effects of law enforcement culture, weapons, tactical, and investigative training, as well as the system’s failure and lack of accountability to OPDV victims.

For law enforcement engaged in investigative and fact-finding interviews, it is essential to understand that traumatic memories are stored, remembered, and reported differently than other events. Evidentiary value of victim interviews can be significantly enhanced through a better understanding of the biological, cognitive, and psychological processes related to traumatic events. This workshop will present a basic overview of these issues. We will also discuss how traditional law enforcement training, culture and practices often diminish optimal fact finding interviews with victims. Finally, taking all of these issues into account, we will offer a preferred practice approach for investigative interviews with victims.