The South Carolina Victim Assistance Network has represented victims at the trial level and also in appellate cases to enforce their rights. This presentation will review the lessons learned at trial level and ways to push back when a Judge is not enforcing the victims’ rights. Case studies include: a case involving the enforcement of a victim’s right to present an oral victim impact statement and have a timely and final conclusion in a homicide case; a case in which a writ of mandamus was sought to protect the surviving family member’s right to confer with the prosecution and have access to case documents; a contempt action against a bond company to enforce monitoring conditions of a defendant; and an appeal of an order requiring the release of therapy records of minor and adult victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

presented by

Sarah Ford, Meghan Gilmer, Rebekah Hiatt - SCVAN

In this presentation, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel for the Oregon State Bar, Alison Wilkinson, will discuss ethical obligations that are likely to arise when working with victims of crime. Through case examples and hypotheticals, you will leave this presentation with a better understanding of how to satisfy your professional responsibilities while best advocating for victims.

presented by

Alison Wilkinson, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, Oregon State Bar

Civilian advocates and attorneys can provide valuable victims’ rights support and advocacy for victims in military justice proceedings – yet few non-military members are sufficiently familiar with the military justice system and how civilian-provided advocacy can support victims’ rights in military justice. Join members of the NCVLI legal team in a facilitated discussion with a seasoned military advocate and an experienced military attorney for victims that is designed to familiarize civilian victim service providers with military processes, rights and options for survivors. Participants will gain a better understanding of how civilian advocates and attorneys can work with military-connected victims in ways that help protect and promote their rights.

presented by

Lieutenant Colonel Leah Eccles Watson, Policy Officer, National Guard Special Victims' Counsel Program & Sergeant First Class Freyja E. Eccles, Intern & Victim Advocate, National Crime Victim Law Institute

State rules of professional conduct limit when attorneys and certain non-attorneys with whom they work can communicate directly with crime victims who are represented by counsel. This training explores these limitations in the context of victims’ rights law and practice. NCVLI will provide a brief overview of the scope and application of no-contact rules to communications with represented victims. Two experienced victims’ rights attorneys – Jamie Balson from Legal Services for Crime Victims in Arizona and Mariam El-menshawi from California Victims Legal Resource Center – will then share their experiences with, and practice tips for, navigating no-contact rules while also facilitating victims' access to their rights.

presented by

Susie Cowen, National Crime Victim Law Institute & Jamie Balson, Crime Victims' Rights Attorney, Legal Services for Crime Victims in Arizona

Trauma-Informed awareness is a critically important factor in successful lawyering. This presentation will give participants an overview of how trauma affects both clients and attorneys. It will also provide practical skills for attorneys in their advocacy work for children and adults who have been the victims of violence. In addition, it will address steps attorneys can take in their own self-care while dealing with trauma in their clients.

presented by

Amber Kinney, J.D. Amber Kinney Law & Sheldon Levy, Ph.D., M.P.H

The cornerstone of meaningful crime victims’ rights is securing appellate review. Unfortunately few victims' rights cases make their way to the appellate courts and of these even fewer have victims' rights attorneys in the mix. It is critical for victims’ rights attorneys to know how to create a record and preserve an issue for appellate review. In this session we will discuss the fundamentals of creating a record for review, review some cases that have issued over the past year, and identify how we can collaborate to secure more appellate decisions.

presented by

Meg Garvin, National Crime Victim Law Institute

In the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd, many were forced to confront the injustice and inequity purposefully built into the criminal justice system and the role victims’ rights can play in that injustice and inequity. For Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center, this realization led to an ongoing effort to ensure that all staff are educated on racial justice and prepared to take action to address it within the context of victims’ rights work. This workshop will include recommendations on materials and curriculum to know better, as well as suggested action steps to do better.

presented by

Cierra Davis, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center & Elizabeth Well, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center

Participants will receive an overview of the options that a victim of crime may have after, during or as an alternative to criminal prosecution. The program will identify common civil claims arising out of criminal acts, and will explain the mental and financial benefits of those claims for the victim. Additionally, the CLE will highlight legal traps which occasionally diminish the value of the claims or prevent victims from pursuing such claims altogether.

presented by

Konrad Kircher, Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima

NCVLI's Meg Garvin and Terry Campos, who combined have 35 years experience in victims' rights, will review key developments and lessons learned in victims' rights from cases decided across the country in 2022. Building on these, they will look ahead and identify how these lessons can inform litigation and policy development in 2023.

presented by

Meg Garvin & Terry Campos, NCVLI

Crime victims often require legal advocacy for a multitude of legal needs while seeking justice. Crime victims who are immigrants carry an additional layer of legal considerations. This training will examine unique challenges and opportunities that immigrant crime victims must navigate while interacting with the criminal justice system. During this session, a panel of three presenters will bring their own perspectives as an immigration attorney, prosecutor and advocate to deconstruct real scenarios that illustrate the complexities and diverse systems with which an immigrant crime victim must engage.

presented by

Glen Banfield, Helen O'Brien, Sarah Purce