U.S. Attorney's Office For The Western District Of North Carolina Commends The Release Of Framework For Prosecutors To Strengthen National Response To Sexual Assault And Domestic Violence

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King of the Western District of North Carolina commends the announcement of the Department of Justice’s new resource for prosecutors, “Framework for Prosecutors to Strengthen Our National Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Involving Adult Victims.”

The announcement was made today in Dallas, Texas, at the Conference on Crimes Against Women by Rosemarie Hidalgo, Director of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).  The guide, written by prosecutors for prosecutors, sets out five principles that, if implemented, will lead to better outcomes for victims, safer communities, and greater accountability for perpetrators of sexual assault and domestic violence.

“The framework announced today reaffirms our commitment to expanding access to justice for all survivors, who deserve respect and the right to be heard,” said the Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Director Rosie Hidalgo. “Enhancing the prosecution response to sexual assault and domestic violence in a trauma-informed manner is a key piece in ending gender-based violence, as part of a broader coordinated community response that includes services and support for survivors, and can have a real, immediate impact on the safety of survivors and entire communities.”

“I commend the guidance announced today and reaffirm my Office’s dedication to strengthening the prosecution of sexual assault and domestic violence crimes in the Western District of North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney King. “This framework is a vital resource for federal prosecutors because it underscores that justice and healing are interconnected and mutually reinforcing concepts. The guidance guarantees that we will do all we can to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions, while ensuring that we support victims and survivors every step of the process, protect their health and safety, respect their experiences, and promote their healing.”

Declinations of meritorious allegations may result from misconceptions about how crimes involving sexual assault and domestic violence are committed and reported, how victims give their accounts, and the evidence required to prove their accounts. This guide equips prosecutors to build provable cases by: (1) relying on the evidentiary value of the victim’s account to frame the investigation; (2) meeting with victims and working with investigators and victim specialists to do so; (3) using the law and evidentiary rules effectively; (4) being thoughtful about what justice and accountability look like; and (5) sustaining a productive, healthy, and committed workforce by redefining success– all of which are rooted in a prosecutor’s primary obligation to seek the truth and uphold the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King said, “The framework emphasizes the importance of supporting and advocating for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault within our criminal justice system. Equally important are our ongoing efforts to educate the public about sexual assault and domestic violence prevention, and to administer federal grants that support organizations dedicated to individuals whose lives have been affected by gender-based violence. When victim advocacy remains central in our collective efforts, we ensure that impacted individuals have access to the care, support, and resources they need and the justice they deserve, and we empower communities to take proactive steps to foster safe environments for all.”

More than 120 state, Tribal, military, and federal prosecutors, as well as advocates, academics, and investigators from an array of jurisdictions were consulted in developing this guide. This guide is designed to encourage prosecutors with all levels of experience to implement its principles when evaluating, investigating, and prosecuting allegations involving sexual assault and domestic violence. In conjunction with this guide, OVW launched a new webpage with resources designed to assist prosecutors in implementing the guide and its principles. This guide further serves as a complement to the Justice Department’s 2022 updated guidance on Improving Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence by Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias.

For additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office please visit our website. Contact details and information about our Victim Witness Unit can be found here.

OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW funds national training and technical assistance and undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at https://www.justice.gov/ovw.