Responding to the Needs of Victims Annual Conference

Friday, September 13, 2024
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Hilton Akron / Fairlawn 3180 W Market St. Akron, OH 44333

Law Enforcement CPT – Approved
Nursing CE - Approved
Attorney CLE – Approved
CSWMFT CE  – Pending Approval

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9th Annual Responding to the Needs of Victims Conference

Strengthening Justice Response to Domestic Violence and Strangulation: Evidence Based & Trauma-Informed Practices for Law Enforcement, Prosecution, and Victim Advocates

Featuring Nationally Recognized Expert Sergeant Denise Jones

with Clark County Assistant Prosecutor Rebekah Sinnott & Advocacy Coordinator Lauren Dennis

The training will cover: Signs and Symptoms of Strangulation, Intimate Partner Violence and Predominant Aggressor Determination, Identifying and Documenting Strangulation, Trauma-Informed Interviewing and Report Writing, and Promoting Systems Collaboration.

Sergeant Denise Jones has been a certified law enforcement officer since May 2001. She is currently assigned to the Investigations Division and serves as the Intimate Partner Violence Unit supervisor for the Clark County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Jones is a member of the agency’s Special Operations Team, providing emergency community response and training for agency members. She assists her agency, as well as law enforcement and partners across the United States and Canada in increasing and strengthening their capacity to respond to gender-based violence with a focus on trauma; trauma-informed policy and procedures; and victim-centered, culturally relevant methods. Sergeant Jones has extensive experience responding to and investigating domestic violence, stalking, strangulation, protection order violations, and sexual assault. She led her agency’s efforts in the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s (IACP) multiyear Integrity, Action, and Justice: Strengthening Law Enforcement Response to Domestic and Sexual Violence Demonstration Initiative. For the past decade, Sergeant Jones has provided training and technical assistance locally and nationally and currently is a consultant for the IACP; the IIR’s National Violence Against Women LETTAC, the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center; and the Institute for Coordinated Community Response. She currently acts as a peer reviewer for the United States, Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. Sergeant Jones recently presented numerous educational sessions at the annual CCAW, the End Violence Against Women International conference, and the annual National Sheriffs’ Association conference. She will also be facilitating a workshop at the IACP this fall.

Additional Speakers

Lauren Dennis is a subject-matter expert for the Office on Violence Against Women-supported National Violence Against Women Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Consortium (LETTAC), the single connection point for law enforcement and partners to access tailored support to strengthen responses to gender-based violence. She has committed her time and talents to the intimate partner violence (IPV) field since 2013.  A graduate of Ohio University in criminal justice studies, she has worked extensively in all forms of advocacy, including crisis response, community-based advocacy, systems-based advocacy, and state-level advocacy.  Ms. Dennis appreciates working directly with survivors of intimate partner crimes, including domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking.  She has a passion for legal advocacy and victim rights with a particular focus on marginalized communities.  

Rebekah Sinnott has been licensed to practice law in Ohio since 2000.  Ms. Sinnott began her practice as a private attorney working primarily in domestic relations and criminal defense.  In 2015, Ms. Sinnott accepted full time employment with the Public Defender’s Office where she was assigned to the felony docket.  In 2021, Ms. Sinnott accepted a position as a prosecutor with the Clark County Prosecutor’s office handling the domestic violence docket.  Her docket consists of domestic violence and all related cases including menacing, stalking, protection order violations and adult sexual assault. 

This training is beneficial for all audiences.

Click HERE to register