Webinar Archive:  Expert Witness Series

Webinar date:  October 25, 2016

 

Description

A majority of battered women facing criminal charges have experienced physical and emotional abuse as part of an ongoing pattern of coercive control.  Expert testimony about coercive control can help judges and juries better understand the context of defendants' behavior by helping them to look beyond physical violence.  Using case examples from his forensic practice, Dr. Evan Stark explains why it is essential to 'look beyond violence' in explaining partner abuse to the court, gives an overview of coercive control and describes how the elements of coercive control can be incorporated into expert testimony.

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Note: This webinar recording contains a detailed description of specific physical, sexual, and verbal abuse.

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About the Presenter

Evan Stark is a sociologist, forensic social worker, widely published author and award-winning researcher with an international reputation for his innovative work on the legal, policy and health dimensions of interpersonal violence, including its effects on children.  Dr. Stark's book, Coercive Control:  The Entrapment of Women in Personal Life has played a major role in redefining domestic violence and reforming domestic violence policies and laws, particularly in Europe.  A co-founder of an early shelter for battered women in New Haven and co-director of the path-breaking Yale Trauma Studies, he has held numerous state and federal appointments related to domestic violence and children.  Dr. Stark has served as an expert in more than 100 criminal, family, civil and child welfare cases throughout the U.S. and in Canada and was the lead expert in Nicholson v. Williams, a successful federal class action against New York City that ended the removal of children from non-offending victims of domestic violence.  He has lectured and trained professionals on the dynamics of coercive control throughout the world and held appointments at Yale, SUNY-Stony Brook, the University of Essex, Bristol University, the University of Edinburgh and at Rutgers University where he is Professor Emeritus in Public Affairs and Public Health.

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Suggested Participants

This webinar is helpful for both new and experienced domestic violence expert witnesses, as well as people who are considering working as an expert in the future.  This may include social workers, academics, and other professionals who might provide general testimony about battering and its effects.  Additionally, we encourage prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other attorneys who represent victims of domestic violence or sexual assault to participate.

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Click here to access recording.  A copy of the PowerPoint (and any other documents from the webinar) is available by clicking here.