Registration is now open for the fifth Establishing Expertise as an Ethical Expert Witness Conference, January 14-16, 2013, in Austin, TX. 

After decades of effective advocacy, policy changes, and direct service provision, myths about violence against women and victim blaming persist and impact the effectiveness of the criminal justice system's response to victims and survivors. Research indicates that advocates and law enforcement offers are effective expert witnesses, and that they and court personnel can affect change regarding the perceptions of these crimes. This conference aims to address that gap by providing training to increase the use of expert testimony in domestic violence cases.

The presenters are comprised of advocates, attorneys, practitioners, and researchers. The conference is a collaboration of the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, The University of Texas at Austin, School of Law, School of Social Work and the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.  

Early registration is $300.  After December 13, it is $325. 

Register online. 

More information

• Building Comprehensive Solutions is a new website that provides a victim-defined framework for creating solutions to domestic violence. The mission is to promote victim-defined advocacy and responses. We pursue this through analysis, technical assistance, information, and tools that are practical, ready to use and responsive to the complex challenges advocates face. This new resource is a key initiative of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, in collaboration with Greater Hartford Legal Aid.

• Read the latest on efforts to pass the Violence Against Women Act, alerts, background information and media accounts.
• Understanding the Nature and Dynamics of Sexual Violence is a new guide published by the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence. Download this wealth of information, with topics ranging from the dynamics of sexual violence to perpetrators and prevention, effects on survivors, down to fundamental issues.
• Loribeth Weinstein, Executive Director of Jewish Women International, wrote an excellent article recently, Increasing Dollars for Domestic Violence: How Companies Can Do Right for Women and Girls.  They also distributed a corresponding graphic.    
• Your Voice Counts ~ the Verizon Foundation is teaming up with James Brown, A CALL TO MEN, Mariska Hargitay's Joyful Heart Foundation and NO MORE to engage men to speak out against domestic violence. Watch the PSA. 
• This year, the National Bulletin on Domestic Violence Prevention is publishing a "Legacy Snapshots ~ Leading advocates reflect or recalled" column.  Two feature National Center leaders ~ read Debby Tucker's and Toby Myers', our Board Vice-Chair.  Special thanks to columnist, Barbara Hart and editor, Andy Klein. 
• Information on sequestration and the federal budget crisis from the Campaign for Funding to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Children's Leadership Council and the Safe States Alliance.