In a move to strengthen the national response to sexual assault and domestic violence, the Department of Justice has released a new framework for prosecutors. The guide, titled ‘Framework for Prosecutors to Strengthen Our National Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Involving Adult Victims,’ sets out five principles that prosecutors can implement to achieve better outcomes for victims, safer communities, and greater accountability for perpetrators.
United States Attorney Susan Lehr commended the announcement, stating, ‘The framework announced today reaffirms our commitment to expanding access to justice for all survivors, who deserve respect and the right to be heard.’
The guide was written by prosecutors for prosecutors and sets out five key principles: (1) relying on the evidentiary value of the victim’s account to frame the investigation; (2) meeting with victims and working with investigators and victim specialists to do so; (3) using the law and evidentiary rules effectively; (4) being thoughtful about what justice and accountability look like; and (5) sustaining a productive, healthy, and committed workforce by redefining success.
The District of Nebraska routinely prosecutes sexual assault and domestic violence offenses occurring on the Omaha Nation, Winnebago, and Santee Sioux Nation Reservations in the District of Nebraska. U.S. Attorney Lehr emphasized the importance of a trauma-informed approach in these cases, stating, ‘We are committed and dedicated to pursuing justice in those cases, partnering with law enforcement, victim specialists, and the Tribes to ensure a trauma-informed approach is used in that pursuit.’
The guide is designed to equip prosecutors with the tools they need to build provable cases and overcome misconceptions about how crimes involving sexual assault and domestic violence are committed and reported. 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.
The announcement was made today in Dallas, TX at the Conference on Crimes Against Women by Rosemarie Hidalgo, Director of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). The guide has been developed in consultation with over 120 state, Tribal, military, and federal prosecutors, as well as advocates, academics, and investigators from an array of jurisdictions. A new webpage has been launched with resources designed to assist prosecutors in implementing the guide and its principles.
RELATED: Tulsa Trio Face Federal Heat: Violence, Exploitation, & Fraud
RELATED: Ohio Man Gets 20 Years for Sickening Crimes Against Children
Related Federal Cases
- Omaha Man Gets 35 Years for Filming Sexual Assault of Child · Nebraska
- Perkins Jailed for Failing to Register as Sex Offender · Nebraska
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
- Live Nation & Ticketmaster Face Antitrust Fight in NY · Washington
- Mansfield Man Hit with Bomb Threat Charges · Mississippi
Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes