Successful Trauma-Informed Investigations

With many sexual assault victims, what you see isn’t always what you get- responses, emotions, and behaviors may all seem contrary to what one might expect. When people do not respond in the ways we think they “should” respond to such traumatic events, we might be tempted to question their honesty or experiences. During this full day training, we will provide a view of sexual assault through the lens of trauma (how our brains are doing exactly what they should be doing to help us survive), identify how this understanding can impact the work we do, explain the key components of a trauma-informed approach and investigation, and network with other agencies and resources within the community. LETs provided.

Training Objectives:

1. Participants will learn how the neurobiology of trauma impacts emotional responses, behavior, and memory.

2. Participants will be able to identify ways that understanding the trauma of sexual assault can shape the interview and investigative processes.

3. Participants will be able to describe the trauma‐informed approach and its key components.

4. Participants will learn the role an advocate plays within the community and with their partnering organizations.

5. Participants will be introduced to resources available to victims of sexual violence in West Virginia and those that are specific to their communities.

Agenda:

8:00 am -8:30 am Registration and Networking

What’s Trending (Lt. Steve Vincent)

Legislative and Protocol Updates (Sherry Eling, JD)

Sexual Assault Trauma: Rape Culture and the Brain

(Marla Willcox-Eddy, BA)

CONTACT Advocacy and Services (Christina Meade, MA)

11:30 am - 12:00 pm LUNCH (Provided)

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm SART – The Importance of Collaboration (Christina Meade, MA)

Trauma-Informed Interviewing (Larry Hasley, BA)

Prosecution: The State’s Case (Ken Bannon, JD)

Trauma, Burnout and Resiliency (Amy Jefferson, BSW)

4:15 pm -4:30 pm Where do we go from here: Utilizing our SARTnership (Sarah Loftus,

BS, MS)

Facilitator Biographies:

Ken Bannon, J.D., Prior to Law School, Ken had a successful career in Entertainment and the Arts, during which, he earned Associate and Bachelor degrees from Marshall University. Ultimately however, he realized it was time to return to his first ambition –Law. At West Virginia University, he earned degrees as a Master of Public Administration and a Doctor of Jurisprudence. It was outside the classroom, however, that he learned the work of a lawyer with Justice Larry Starcher, the West Virginia Law Institute, and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. Ken Bannon has always been active in community service organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, JCI-USA and the American Red Cross. During Law School, he earned the pro bono distinction for service and mediated more than thirty cases in the Magistrate Courts of Monongalia, Preston, and Harrison Counties. Ken now serves as President of the Huntington Scottish Rite Foundation, supporting the RiteCare Clinic at the Marshall University Speech and Language Center.

Sherry Eling, J.D., is the Violence Against Women Resource Prosecutor for the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute in Charleston, West Virginia. She has held this position since April, 2015. She received a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. In addition, she received her J.D. degree from Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio in 1993. She worked in private practice and at Legal Aid of West Virginia prior to taking a position as an assistant prosecutor. She began as an assistant prosecutor in 2004 working as the Cabell County VAWA Assistant Prosecutor. She then worked in Mason County as an assistant prosecutor. She has made appearances in other counties as a special prosecutor. She has handled cases ranging from littering to sexual assault and M**der. In her current position, she is a state-wide resource for county prosecutors and their assistants in all areas of intimate partner violence with an emphasis on sexual assault, stalking and domestic violence crimes and trains often in these areas as well as others. In addition to prosecutors, she trains first responders, judges, magistrates, court personnel, attorneys, victim advocates and law enforcement including students at the West Virginia State Police Academy.

Sergeant Larry Hasley, BA, a Morgantown Police Department 12-year veteran, has extensive training in sexual assault investigations. He was the Monongalia County SART’s 2013 Member of the Year and WV FRIS’ 2015 Visionary Voice Award recipient. Detective Hasley has served as a Special Deputy US Marshal on the Mountain State Fugitive Task Force and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Detective Hasley is a graduate of West Virginia University and the West Virginia State Police Academy.

Amy Jefferson, BSW, As the Compass Mental Fitness Coach, Amy works within the Huntington Fire and Police Departments to normalize first responder occupational stress and trauma, and break the stigma which surrounds addressing these issues. Her background in social work, combined with her natural ability to put others at ease, help her break down the walls that can hinder an individual’s ability to move forward in life. She equips first responders with research backed strategies to build their individual resilience, while creating an ongoing dialogue within departments about mental health to foster a culture of awareness, acceptance, and support. Amy’s contribution to the success of the Compass Program extends beyond her mental health coaching services. She created the Compass Mental Health Training Curriculum, used to acclimate new hires in both the fire and police department, and also developed the Compass Approved Provider resource base, prioritizing local mental health providers who have been personally vetted and understand the nature of a first responder’s job. Additionally, she initiated the Compass Retiree Program, which is available to any retired Huntington fire or police, and offers the same physical and mental health coaching services that are available to active first responders.

Sarah Elizabeth Loftus, BS, MS, is the Community Outreach Coordinator with the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WVFRIS). Prior to joining WVFRIS, Sarah was the ADA & Legal Coordinator with the Administration Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Sarah received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from West Virginia State University and is currently working towards her Ed.D. in Leadership Studies at Marshall University.

Christina Meade, MA, is a Cabell County Victim Advocate with CONTACT Rape Crisis Center and a part-time instructor of Psychology at Marshall University. She completed a Master of Arts in Psychology at Marshall University. In advance of her master’s degree, Christina completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Marshall University and a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Analysis from the University of Debrecen, Hungry. Christina provides advocacy to adult victims in Cabell County and works closely with special populations such as the LGBT community, and clients who are in active addiction and or recovery for substance use disorder. She facilitates and assists with several in-person and online support groups for victims of sexual violence within these three marginalized populations.

Marla Willcox Eddy, BA, has served as the Director of REACH, a program of The Counseling Connection, for over 22 years. REACH provides a variety of services to survivors of sexual victimization and provides community education programs surrounding the issue of sexual violence. Marla has worked with over 4,000 survivors during her career providing support, education, and guidance throughout the healing process. In addition, she has presented hundreds of prevention education programs. Additionally, she provides training programs for professionals to increase their understanding of sexual assault and how to best respond to a survivor of rape in a professional capacity. Marla serves on numerous committees, both locally and statewide, including the WVSARTT (WV Sexual Assault Response and Technical Team).

LT. Steve Vincent is a Lieutenant with the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office. In April 2023, Lt. Vincent will have been with the Sheriff’s Office for 24 years. His current position is Detective Bureau Commander. He has served several different roles as a member of the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office which include patrolman, a member of the SWAT team for 14 years with the last 3 ½ years being the SWAT commander, he spent time as member of the Federal Drug Task Force. During his time with the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office, Lt. Vincent has received accommodation for heroism and good service. Vincent’s strengths lie in tactical operations; he is a certified firearm instructor, and certified ALICE instructor. Lt. Vincent is passionate about serving his community with dignity and compassion while investigating criminal complaints and providing victims of crime with a sense of justice.

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