Overview
The National Institute of Justice, the research and development arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, through its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium on September 8-9, 2016, in Washington, DC. The symposium focused on how the nation is moving forward and finding solutions to the complex issues that arise in sexual assault cases and in testing sexual assault evidence.
This unprecedented event, which featured an array of stakeholders including medical staff, law enforcement, crime laboratories, victims’ advocates, and prosecution, highlighted current accomplishments and shared valuable experiences from jurisdictions throughout the country. The goal of the event was to support our nation’s policymakers and practitioners as they drive future efforts to solve sexual assault cases, provide justice to victims, and ultimately improve public health and public safety.
Archived Panels
Day 1 - Thursday, September 8, 2016
Opening Remarks
Howard Spivak, MD
Conference Address
Anna Martinez
Keynote Address
Bill Baer
Closing Remarks
Brian J. Moran
Panel 1 - Immediate Aftermath of Sexual Assault - Understanding and Responding to Trauma
Moderator: Kellie Green
Panel Members: Natasha S. Alexenko, Jenifer Markowitz, & Rebecca Campbell, Ph.D.
Panel 2 - Victim-Centered Approaches to Sexual Assault First Response
Moderator: Jim Markey
Panel Members: Elynne Greene, Noël Busch-Armendariz, Susan Chasson, & Jordan Satinsky
Video - Progress on Testing Sexual Assault Kits - An Update from the Nevada Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Working Group
Moderator: Kristina Rose
Panel Members: Kim Murga, James Sweetin, Lora Cody, & Elynne Greene
Panel 3 - Investigating Sexual Assault - Lessons Learned and Promising Practices
Moderator: Julie A. Lecea
Panel Members: Eleanor A. Odom, Travis Burrows, & Richard Bell
Panel 4 - Legislative Reform - Addressing Sexual Assault Across the Nation
Moderator: Rebecca O'Connor
Panel Members: Nancy Hoffman, Tina L. Orwall, Lisa Madigan, & Doug McGowen
Panel 5 - What is Probative - The Role of Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases
Moderator: Julie A. Lecea
Panel Members: Jay W. Henry, Mitchell Morrissey, & Lora Cody
Day 2 - Friday, September 9, 2016
Opening Remarks
Nancy Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Closing Remarks
Tina Tchen & Kym L. Worthy
Panel 6 - Behind the Pulitzer Prize Winning Story "An Unbelievable Story of Rape"
Moderator: Rachel Dissell
Panel Members: Ken Armstrong, T. Christian Miller, Stacy Galbraith & Edna Hendershot
Panel 7 - In the Lab - Testing Sexual Assault Evidence
Moderator: Amber Carr
Panel Members: Brady Mills, Anthony J. Onorato, & Robert W. Taylor
Panel 8 - Building an Efficient Laboratory Using Technology and Innovative Processes
Moderator: Matthew Gamette
Panel Members: Timothy D. Kupferschmid, John A. Byrd, & Paul J. Speaker
Guest Speaker - TNT's Cold Justice: Sex Crimes
Introduction: Camilla Green
Speaker: Alicia D. O'Neill
Panel 9 - Funding and Resources to Solve Sexual Assault Cases
Moderator: Kristina Rose
Panel Members: Martha Bashford, Denise E. O'Donnell, Bea Hanson, Nancy Rodriguez, & Joye Frost
Panel 10 - Using Multidisciplinary Collaboration to Improve Sexual Assault Response and Create Positive Change
Moderator: Doug McGowen
Panel Members: Noël Busch-Armendariz, Emily Burton-Blank, Mary Lentschke, William Wells, & Sonia Corrales
Keynote Speakers
Howard Spivak
Deputy Director and
Chief of Staff
National Institute of Justice
Anna Martinez
Senior Policy Advisor
Office of Justice Programs
US Department of Justice
Bill Baer
Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General
US Department of Justice
Brian J. Moran
Secretary of Public Safety
and Homeland Security
Commonwealth of Virginia
Nancy Rodriguez
Director
National Institute of Justice
Ken Armstrong
Senior Reporter
"An Unbelievable Story of Rape"
The Marshall Project
T. Christian Miller
Senior Reporter
"An UnbelievableStory of Rape"
ProPublica
Alicia O'Neill
TNT's Cold Justice: Sex Crimes
and Attorney
Chip Lewis Law
Gerald M. LaPorte
Director
Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences
National Institute of Justice
Tina Tchen
Assistant to the President and
Chief of Staff to the First Lady
The White House
Kym L. Worthy
Prosecutor
Wayne County, Michigan
