Notes from the National College
the Education Division of NDAA

By Candace M. Mosley, Director of Programs, and Amie Clifford, Assistant Director

AS FALL APPROACHES, exciting things are happening at the National College. In addition to having just merged with the National District Attorneys Association -- and having assumed responsibility for coordinating prosecutor training presented nationally and at the National Advocacy Center, the National College is working on a full fall schedule of national courses and trial advocacy courses at the National Advocacy Center and increasing the usefulness of the National Center for Prosecution Ethics.

On October 23-27, 2005, in Reno, Nevada, the National College will celebrate the 15th anniversary of its annual Domestic Violence Conference. This year's theme, "Beyond the Bars: Transforming Lives ... Strengthening Communities," focuses on more than mere awareness of the issues involved in these difficult cases. In addition to incarceration, we will be looking at solutions that impact the community at large and assist in empowering those touched by domestic violence. There is an exciting lineup of new topics including identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking, preventing system failure, President Bush's family justice centers initiative, protecting the disabled victims of domestic violence, and domestic violence later in life. We will also continue to offer presentations on the traditional core topics, including interstate enforcement of protective orders, supervised visitation and exchange services, specialized domestic violence courts, cyberstalking, meeting legal needs of incarcerated battered women, safety planning, and prosecuting without the victim's participation in the wake of Crawford. Showcases and the resource center will be available to highlight grass-roots efforts and creative concepts for those seeking proactive ideas to address these issues, and the optional DV101 Symposium will provide essential training for those new to the field of domestic violence.

On September 18-22 in Chicago, the college will conduct the Special Prosecutions Course. This course returns to the schedule this year because of many requests for training for prosecutors who are involved in complex investigations and trials.

An innovation at the National Advocacy Center is the announcement of all scheduled trial advocacy courses for the coming year. It is hoped that this will facilitate more convenient scheduling by prosecutors.

The college's National Center for Prosecution Ethics has posted two more topical indexes on its Web site, www.ethicsforprosecutors.com. Information about comments, proposals and objections submitted to the courts by prosecutors and prosecutors' associations concerning the rules of professional conduct, will be added to the members-only portion of the site. The center will also be providing research support and assistance to the association in its revision of the National Prosecution Standards.