The National Institute on the Prosecution of Sexual Violence: Focus on Cold and Current Cases
- OVW Approved?
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Yes
- Description
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NOW OVW-APPROVED—APPLY NOW!
The National Institute on the Prosecution of Sexual Violence: Focus on Cold and Current Cases (NIPSVCC) is an intensive, three and one half-day training designed for prosecutors handling sexual violence cold cases. This training includes a focus on techniques to strengthen the prosecution of cold cases arising from untested rape kits, newly tested forensic evidence, delayed reporting, or prior investigative or charging decisions.
This Institute treats “cold case” sexual violence not as a function of age, but as a function of missed investigative opportunities, evolving science, and renewed prosecutorial responsibility. Where untested kits reflect investigative or charging decisions driven by myths or misinformation, they stand as evidence of justice denied. NIPSVCC seeks to change that.
INSTITUTE FOCUS
NIPSVCC challenges prosecutors to critically reassess how sexual violence cases can be investigated, charged, and tried, even after the passage of time. The training is offender-focused, evidence-driven, and grounded in prosecutorial ethics, with sustained attention to victim engagement and public safety.
CORE TOPICS
The curriculum enhances prosecutors’ abilities to:
- Recognize the danger of sexual violence and its link to other offenses, including but not limited to stalking, burglary, intimate partner sexual assault, kidnapping, assault, and homicide.
- Analyze, investigate, and prosecute cold and current sexual violence cases and concurrent offenses through the lens of offender tactics and patterns, including serial and cross-over offending.
- Employ victim-centered, trauma-informed strategies when preparing victim notification protocols and throughout investigations, trial preparation, and the trial itself.
- Identify and submit forensic evidence for testing and analysis, including advanced DNA technologies and techniques, such as forensic genetic genealogy and familial DNA searches.
- Build a strong foundation for the admission of physical evidence, scientific evidence, and expert testimony while providing an explanation of its significance and probative value for the elements of the crime.
INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT
Through a combination of hypothetical case scenarios, participant exercises, small group discussions, interactive lectures, and faculty demonstrations, participants will re-examine their own beliefs about sexual violence and refine their prosecution case evaluation, litigation, and trial presentation skills. The highly interactive format enables prosecutors from different jurisdictions, with varied levels of experience, to learn from one another and engage in “real-life” scenarios that are readily transferable to their everyday work. At the end of the Institute, participants will be better equipped to hold offenders of sexual violence criminally accountable while centering victims’ needs and voices throughout the process.
ELIGIBILITY
- Open only to local, state, and tribal prosecutors in the United States
- Participants must handle or anticipate handling sexual violence cases
- All experience levels welcome
- Enrollment capped to preserve an intensive, interactive learning environment
SCHOLARSHIPS: AEquitas is able to cover airfare and up to four nights of lodging for a limited number of participants.
AEquitas will deliver this training June 9–12, 2026, in Pittsburgh, PA.
This event is OVW-approved. Accepted applicants will be instructed to confirm attendance and book travel. A hotel block will be made available at that time.
No travel should be booked until registration is confirmed.
Apply now at the link below!