WASHINGTON – In a move to combat the devastating impact of sexual assault and domestic violence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. has commended the Justice Department’s new resource for prosecutors, “Framework for Prosecutors to Strengthen Our National Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Involving Adult Victims.”
The framework, unveiled today in Dallas, TX at the Conference on Crimes Against Women, sets out five principles that aim to lead to better outcomes for victims, safer communities, and greater accountability for perpetrators of sexual assault and domestic violence. The guide, written by prosecutors for prosecutors, is designed to equip prosecutors to build provable cases by relying on the evidentiary value of the victim’s account, meeting with victims and working with investigators and victim specialists, using the law and evidentiary rules effectively, being thoughtful about what justice and accountability look like, and sustaining a productive, healthy, and committed workforce.
U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves commended the announcement, stating, “This Office sees daily the impact of domestic violence. It is why we have so many dedicated and highly trained prosecutors, victim advocates, and staff members working in the space to support survivors, and why we have implemented innovative and effective programs such as the Sexual Assault Cold Case Initiative and the Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Initiative created and staffed by members of the Office’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Section.”
The guide aims to address misconceptions about how crimes involving sexual assault and domestic violence are committed and reported, how victims give their accounts, and the evidence required to prove their accounts. This, in turn, may result in declinations of meritorious allegations. However, with the new framework, prosecutors will be better equipped to build provable cases and seek justice for victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. joined over 120 state, Tribal, military, and federal prosecutors, as well as advocates, academics, and investigators from an array of jurisdictions to aid the developers of this guide. This guide is designed to encourage prosecutors with all levels of experience to implement its principles when evaluating, investigating, and prosecuting allegations involving sexual assault and domestic violence.
The Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Director Rosie Hidalgo stated, “The framework announced today reaffirms our commitment to expanding access to justice for all survivors, who deserve respect and the right to be heard. Enhancing the prosecution response to sexual assault and domestic violence in a trauma-informed manner is a key piece in ending gender-based violence.” The guide further serves as a complement to the Justice Department’s 2022 updated guidance on Improving Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence by Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias.”
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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