Since 2005 the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys has received grant funds from the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission to implement a program designed to assist prosecutors in the areas of domestic violence and sexual violence against women. This program provides prosecutors and law enforcement with technical assistance, professional training and the resources of both agencies in an effort to improve the investigation and prosecution of these types of cases. The Violence Against Women Program along with the Conference also trains victim advocates, victim witness legal assistants, District Attorney support staff and other community agencies on the unique challenges that are present in domestic violence and sexual violence cases.
The Violence Against Women Resource Prosecutor (VAWRP) is responsible for assessing the training needs of prosecutors and law enforcement and then providing quality training opportunities to fulfill those needs. The VAWRP provides technical assistance and legal research to prosecutors and serves as a resource to prepare briefs, legal memoranda and other pleadings for use at hearings, trials or on appeal of domestic violence and sexual violence cases. The VAWRP also supplies a quarterly newsletter which includes case law updates, legislative changes and other training opportunities.
If you are a prosecutor, law enforcement officer, other professional or victim of domestic or sexual violence and you have a legal question or concern, please contact the VAWRP, Amber Lueken Barwick at 919-890-1500 or email her at amber.l.barwick@nccourts.org.
