Aequitas

AEQUITAS' MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE IN INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, STALKING, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES BY DEVELOPING, EVALUATING, AND REFINING PROSECUTION PRACTICES THAT INCREASE VICTIM SAFETY AND OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY.

INNOVATIVE PROSECUTION PRACTICES - IDENTIFY AND SUSTAIN DATA-DRIVEN, RESEARCH-BASED PROSECUTION PRACTICES THAT ENHANCE CAPACITY AND OUTCOMES IN COMMUNITY SAFETY AND PROMOTE MULTI- AND INTRA-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION TO ACHIEVE FAIR, IMPARTIAL AND EXPEDITIOUS PURSUITS OF JUSTICE; ENSURE SAFE COMMUNITIES; AND PROMOTE INTEGRITY IN THE PROSECUTION PROFESSION AND COORDINATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING RESEARCH-INFORMED, DATA-DRIVEN TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (E.G., UTILIZING ALGORITHMS TO IDENTIFY HIGH RISK DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND GUN VIOLENCE OFFENDERS; PROSECUTOR-LED YOUTHFUL OFFENDER DIVERSION PROGRAMS, AND SPECIALIZED HUMAN TRAFFICKING COURTS, PROSECUTION PRACTICES RELATED TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, STALKING, AND RELATED HUMAN TRAFFICKING), CONVENING MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS AND OTHER EDUCATION SESSIONS, AND DEVELOPING RESOURCES.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE - SUPPORT PROSECUTORS' CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY PROSECUTE KNOWN OFFENDER, COLD CASE, MULTIPLE DEFENDANT, TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED, INTIMATE PARTNER, AND CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE CASES BY PROVIDING MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO DATA-DRIVEN, RESEARCH- INFORMED, AND EXPERIENCE-BASED STRATEGIES THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MENTORSHIP, AND CASE CONSULTATION (E.G., CONSULTING WITH EXPERTS, PREPARING TO SELECT JURORS, ANTICIPATING AND COUNTERING DEFENSES). ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING AND DEVELOP RESOURCES FOR PROFESSIONALS TO HELP SUSTAIN EFFECTIVE PRACTICES AND PROMOTE SYSTEMIC CHANGE (E.G., MODEL RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE FOR PROSECUTORS).

STALKING - ENSURE FIRST RESPONDERS AND OTHER ALLIED PROFESSIONALS HAVE THE SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE TO IDENTIFY AND RESPOND TO THE CRIME OF STALKING BY PROVIDING SPECIALIZED TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON BEST AND PROMISING PRACTICES (E.G., IDENTIFYING STALKING WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF INTERSECTING CRIMES (E.G., INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE), STALKING SPECIFIC THREAT ASSESSMENT); DEVELOPING AND DISTRIBUTING ACCURATE, CURRENT, AND PRACTICAL RESOURCES ON STALKING (E.G., STALKING INCIDENT AND BEHAVIOR LOG; ADVOCATE GUIDE ON STALKING; PROSECUTORS' GUIDE TO STALKING); AND PROMOTING AWARENESS-RAISING ACTIVITIES WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON STALKING AWARENESS MONTH.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION - CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE DYNAMICS AND INDICATORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CHALLENGE PROSECUTORS AND ALLIED PROFESSIONALS (INCLUDING TASK FORCES) TO REEVALUATE THEIR APPROACH TO DETECTING, INVESTIGATING, AND PROSECUTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING CRIMES BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (E.G., CONDUCTING TRAUMA-INFORMED INTERVIEWS, COLLECTING DIGITAL EVIDENCE, CHARGING CONSIDERATIONS, CLOSING ONRAMPS TO AND PROVIDING EXIT RAMPS FROM EXPLOITATION), INFORMED BY RESEARCH AND EXPERIENCE, AND TRAINING PROFESSIONALS ON CUSTOMIZABLE STRATEGIES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE, RESPONSIVE, AND EASY TO IMPLEMENT.