ODVN Legal Advocacy Caucus presents

Assisting Battered Women Charged with Crimes

Friday, November 9, 2018, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

This event is only open to domestic violence programs and shelters

When domestic violence survivors become criminal defendants, they still need advocacy, support, safety planning and community resources. Battering creates an increased risk of incarceration due to self-defense, addiction related to trauma, parental kidnapping to protect children, being compelled by the abuser to commit criminal acts and more. Once a survivor is in trouble, she may have difficulty accessing the same support and safety services she could have easily received before her arrest. This caucus will help the Ohio advocacy community talk about our role in assisting domestic violence survivors who are charged with or convicted of crimes, including acts of homicide and felonious assault, or drug charges emanating from the opioid epidemic in our state. You'll learn from domestic violence advocates throughout Ohio who are working with battered, incarcerated survivors in jails, community based correctional facilities and prisons. Discussion includes our roles in supporting survivors during trials, incarceration and as they return to their communities from jail or prisons,

ODVN Trainers, Moderators: Nancy Grigsby, Legal Assistance Program Director and Shelly Bell, Linking Systems Project Coordinator

Our exciting and informative day will include two panels and a presentation:

Assisting Battered Women in Jail and Community-Based Correctional Facilities

This panel will discuss ways programs can provide critical information and facilitate healing for survivors in local jails and correctional facilities.

Panel: Bonnie Wilson, Director of DV and Visitation, Someplace Safe serving Trumbull county; Cassie Ward, Law Enforcement Advocate, Women Helping Women serving Adams, Brown, Butler and Hamilton counties; Reneen Mincy, Legal Aid Advocate, Women Helping Women serving Adams, Brown, Butler and Hamilton counties; Virginia Beckman, Executive Director, Genesis House serving Lorain county.

Special Issues for Pre-Trial Incarcerated Battered Women

This panel will discuss the specific needs of pre-trial incarcerated survivors.

Panel: Cheli Curran, Executive Director, Domestic Violence Project serving Stark county; Katie Weber, Client Intervention Specialist, Women Helping Women serving Adams, Brown, Butler and Hamilton counties; Laura Mills, Canton area attorney

Helping Released Women Safely Return Home

This presentation will overview the challenges of reentry for DV survivors, and ways advocates can help facilitate a safer and more effective return for survivors.

Presenter: CJ Williams, Domestic Violence Program Coordinator, the Ohio Reformatory for Women through Turning Point, Marion county

Continuing Education Credits: 4

Accommodations: If you require an ASL interpreter or have any accessibility needs, please contact Nancy Grigsby at nancyg@odvn.org by October 19, 2018.

Dress: Please dress casually and comfortably. Temperatures in training environments are unpredictable so please dress in layers.

Food and Materials: Due to grant restrictions, ODVN cannot provide food or snacks. Participants are encouraged to bring what they need to take care of themselves. There will be a 45 minute lunch break. Participants will be provided with all hand-outs and training materials, but may find it useful to bring a laptop, tablet, pen or paper.

Space is limited. Please register by November 6.

This event is only open to domestic violence programs and shelters