Critical Decisions: Building Domestic Violence Cases from First Response to Conviction

Critical Decisions: Building Domestic Violence Cases from First Response to Conviction offers law enforcement professionals a rare, behind-the-scenes look at two real Georgia domestic violence cases, following each case from the initial 911 call and on-scene response through investigation, arrest decisions, trial preparation, and conviction. Using actual case materials, including police reports, body-worn camera footage, interviews, photographs, and trial records, participants will work through critical decision points, engage in small-group exercises, and hear directly from a multidisciplinary team of law enforcement, prosecution, probation, and victim advocacy professionals. This highly interactive, case-study-based training is designed to identify what works, examine missed opportunities, and strengthen the practical skills officers need to improve victim and officer safety, offender accountability, and successful case outcomes. 

Upon completion of this course, participants will apply evidence-based domestic violence response and investigative best practices to real-world incidents by evaluating critical decision points from initial dispatch through prosecution, resulting in improved victim safety, officer safety, offender accountability, and successful case outcomes.

6 Hours POST credit given to sworn officers who complete the full training. 

Breakfast and Lunch provided by your community partners: SOWEGA Children's Alliance and United Way

Your trainers:
Mike Mertz, Owner: C&M Consulting

Jennifer Waindle, Deputy Director, National Center on Legal Approaches to Prevent Family Violence: BWJP

Rachel Ashe, Assistant District Attorney: Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit

Kylee Elliott, Sr. Program Coordinator, Training and Engagement: GCFV