Sexual Violence Glossary

About the Multidisciplinary Sexual Violence Glossary

The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) in collaboration with the Center for Nursing Excellence International (CFNEI) has developed a sexual violence online glossary for medical, law enforcement, and legal professionals.

Effective communication among interdisciplinary professionals is essential. Unfortunately, these professionals speak very different professional languages using terminology from the legal, medical and forensic science disciplines, sometimes interchangeably. To develop this glossary, CFNEI engaged with multidisciplinary subject matter experts who contributed to developing the terms list, writing associated definitions, and reviewing the multidisciplinary terminology/definitions. A consensus model was used to clarify ambiguous terms or terms with opposing definitions found in the literature and/or reference materials. This project served to create a resource that can be used to help bridge language related communication gaps and potential miscommunication associated with discipline specific terminology.

Currently, the glossary contains over 3400 terms and over 340 acronyms, synonyms, and variations.

The FTCOE and CFNEI will continue to update the glossary, import terms into the searchable index, and will ensured that definitions are compliant with the FBI quality assurance standards to maintain consistency in federal documents. The Multidisciplinary Sexual Violence Glossary is intended to be living document in support of the entire community. Everyone is invited to submit terms they would like to see included, so take a moment to do so at the bottom of the glossary webpage. The glossary can be accessed through the FTCOE and CFNEI websites, and soon through a mobile application.

Click here to access the Multidisciplinary Sexual Violence Glossary


About CFNEI

The Center for Forensic Nursing Excellence International (CFNEI) is a solutions oriented organization. We partner with groups, communities, businesses, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations to create innovative, relevant, and cost-effective solutions and services. Through these partnerships, we engage in forensic nursing and multidisciplinary education, clinical forensic and legal consultation, research collaboration, product development and other related services for professionals responding to the needs of populations affected by violence/trauma/disaster.

CEO and Founder of CFNEI
Dr. Ekroos is committed to achieving excellence through innovative strategies and best practices. Through her analytical approach to solution development, Dr. Ekroos has enacted effective strategies across diverse business models including for profit, non-profit, educational and government agencies. Her solutions driven processes take into consideration strategic goals, resources, stakeholder interests, best practices, unintended consequences and system wide implications. She is a self-motivated professional with extensive advanced practice and multidisciplinary experience serving populations affected by health disparities, violence, and systematic barriers to services.

Having served as a clinical resource and consultant to numerous organizations and government entities, Dr. Ekroos currently contributes as an adviser/subject matter expert on local, regional, and national committees. She is a respected executive leader whose work is grounded in the core values of personal, professional, and organizational integrity, accountability and respect for persons. These values can be seen in her lifelong commitment to addressing disparate care practices, promoting health across the life cycle, providing quality educational opportunities, and serving as a dynamic organizational leader.