The National Institute on the Prosecution of Domestic Violence Homicide
- OVW Approved?
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Yes
- Description
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OVW Approved—Apply Now!
Application Priority Deadline: Monday, March 16, 2026, with continued rolling acceptances.The National Institute on the Prosecution of Domestic Violence Homicide (NIPDVH) is an intensive, three-and-a-half-day in-person training designed for prosecutors who handle homicide cases, domestic violence cases, or both. The Institute equips prosecutors with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to effectively investigate, charge, and prosecute domestic violence homicides and near-fatal cases—while strengthening systems-level responses aimed at preventing future loss of life.
Grounded in a victim-centered, offender-focused, and evidence-based framework, NIPDVH challenges participants to critically examine the dynamics and history of domestic violence relationships that escalate to homicide. Prosecutors will learn to move beyond myths and misconceptions by identifying patterns of coercive control, escalation, and lethality, and by centering accountability on offender behavior.
Participants will learn to:
- Evaluate the dynamics and history of domestic violence relationships that culminate in homicide or near-fatal violence;
- Employ victim-centered, offender-focused investigative and prosecutorial strategies in domestic violence cases;
- Build a strong foundation for the admission of physical evidence, including articulating its relevance, probative value, and connection to the elements of the crime;
- Effectively utilize forensic, medical, and other expert testimony to help fact finders understand the significance and impact of evidence in domestic violence homicide cases;
- Analyze and respond to common defense strategies, including self-defense claims, victim blaming, and minimization of abuse; and
- Develop practical strategies to improve the systemic response to domestic violence and enhance homicide prevention efforts.
Curriculum topics include:
- Domestic violence dynamics in homicide and other cases
- Strangulation, firearms, and coercive control
- Forensic and medical evidence in fatal and delayed-death cases
- Digital evidence and technology-facilitated abuse
- Witness intimidation and forfeiture by wrongdoing
- Defendant statements, self-defense claims, and charging considerations
- Expert testimony, jury selection, trial strategy, and ethical obligations
Facilitated by a multidisciplinary national faculty, the Institute uses hypothetical case scenarios, participant exercises, small-group discussions, interactive lectures, and faculty demonstrations to support skill development and practical application. Participants will leave better prepared to prosecute domestic violence homicides in a manner that promotes justice for victims, accountability for offenders, and meaningful prevention of future violence.