Responding to Violence

Against Women

Project Information

NCVLI has the goal of ensuring that all victims, including women victimized by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and other crimes against women, have the opportunity to exercise their rights in the criminal justice system in the manner that they choose.  Under NCVLI’s Responding to Violence Against Women Project, NCVLI protects the rights of these victims in the following ways:

Litigation

• NCVLI files amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs to educate the judiciary on a variety of issues relating to crimes against women. Recently, in a victory for victims in California, NCVLI joined four other groups as co-amici in the fight to keep rape shield protections strong.  The California Supreme Court found the probative value of the evidence of the victim’s prior sexual conduct was slight, but the danger of prejudice was high, and therefore ruled in favor of the victim.
• NCVLI also provides focused legal technical assistance in the form of legal research, writing, and strategic case analysis on civil and criminal cases impacting this population.

Education & Training

• NCVLI hosts teleconferences, webinars, and in-person trainings on a variety of topics related to various crimes against women.  Past trainings have included such topics as victims’ rights in campus sexual assault cases, an overview of rape shield laws, and the impact of trauma on victims of domestic violence. 
• NCVLI publishes an electronic digest containing the latest case law and news items affecting these populations, and publishes on rights of these victims in position papers, journal articles, and newsletter columns.
• NCVLI employs two dedicated violence against women law student interns that assist the project team in responding to technical assistance requests, and other legal research and writing support.

Public Policy

• NCVLI provides a national perspective on policy and legal issues pertaining to violence against women, and works collaboratively with the larger community to develop a vision for the movement.

 

For more information on NCVLI’s Responding to Violence Against Women Project, please contact NCVLI at ncvli@lclark.edu or 503-768-6819.