The sexual assault expert witness prosecutors training (prosecutors training) is designed to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system in maine

The prosecutors training will (1) address a current GAP in prosecutor training, (2) build relationships between prosecutors and sexual assault experts, and (3) allow increased comfort and experience for both prosecutors and experts in providing expert testimony in contested sexual assault proceedings. This funding will be used to provide a two-day intensive mock trial training to prosecutors from across the state with additional follow-up remote training and support. The first day of the training will be focused on the use of sexual assault forensic examiners as expert witnesses to explain dynamics of sexual violence and respond to defense experts. The second day of the training will focus on using the testimony of forensic interviewers to admit forensic interview recordings into evidence in child sexual assault cases. There will also be remote follow-up trainings/peer calls. The service area will be statewide across the entire state of maine. The intended beneficiaries are primarily prosecutors, especially the nearly half of prosecutors across the state that have fewer than five years experience. There are no subrecipients of this project.