Notes from the National College

College Continues to Meet Needs

By Amie L. Clifford, Assistant Director, National College of District Attorneys

In its continuing efforts to meet the needs of prosecutors, their staffs and other criminal justice professionals (law enforcement, community victim advocates and other disciplines), the National College has added two new courses to its fall schedule. One of those new courses is the second offering of “Meeting Challenges in Prosecution and Victim Advocacy.”

The first offering of this course, held in December 2003, was wildly successful. Numbering over 100, the attendees were representative of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement and victim advocates from prosecution, law enforcement and communities and from other disciplines. Many attendees commented on the uniqueness of the course and asked that it be repeated.

The goal of the course is to familiarize those who work with victims in the criminal justice system with the roles of victim advocates, law enforcement and prosecutors; resources available to assist victims of crime; victimology; and issues related to the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. Presentations will be made on topics such as: legislation and lobbying, the rules of evidence, discovery obligations of the prosecution team, dealing with the media, victim dynamics, communicating with victims, the criminal justice process, ethical considerations for the prosecution team, funding issues, successful grant writing, responding to acts of terrorism, serial crimes or crimes involving multiple victims, innovative investigative and prosecution techniques for cases involving special victims, and effective advocacy for victims.

“Meeting Challenges in Prosecution and Victim Advocacy” will be held in New Orleans December 5-9, 2004. Please visit the college’s Web site at http://www.law.sc.edu/ncda/ for more information on this course or to register.