NCJ Number
237337
Date Published
August 2009
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This newsletter presents an overview of the mission, training, and technical resources of AEquitas, an organization established though the collaboration of Federal and State agencies for the purpose of improving the effectiveness of prosecutions in cases of violence against women.
Abstract
AEquitas (the Roman goddess representing equity and fairness) means a system of law or a body of connected legal principles that have superseded or supplemented the common law on the ground of their intrinsic superiority. AEquitas was created through funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It is a partnership between OVW, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), and the Battered Women's Justice Project (BWJP). In the spirit of promoting a coordinated response to violence against women, AEquitas will collaborate with national, State, and local advocates and agencies for the purpose of encouraging a victim-centered response to cases of violence against women, while giving prosecutors the tools they need to succeed in court. AEquitas will also partner with forensic health-care professionals, law enforcement, the judiciary, and other organizations representing allied professionals, so as to ensure the proper collection and preservation of evidence, effective use of expert witnesses, and to improve results in the criminal justice system through the effective prosecution of defendants. Through one-to-one case consultation, technical assistance, and mentoring, AEquitas staff will promote a contextual, rather than a uniform approach to violence against women. AEquitas staff will also work with prosecutors to enhance their trial skills by enabling them to better identify and use forensic and medical evidence; identify and make use of forensic, medical, and mental health experts; and use this information to improve the education of judges and juries. 3 notes