On Thursday, August 17, at 2:00pm ET, the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative (RVCRI) hosted a webinar to discuss strategies, promising practices, and lessons learned for handling sensitive investigations in rural communities, including cases of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Attendees heard from Brian Eads, Investigator at the Gering (NE) Police Department, and Michael Tunink, Senior Criminal Attorney at the Coconino County (AZ) County Attorney’s Office. During the event, attendees:

1. Gained knowledge and understanding of sexual assault and intimate partner violence investigations in rural communities;
2. Discussed navigating the “small town” relationships regarding sensitive investigations;
3. Learned how to conduct these investigations when various criminal justice partners are involved, including prosecutors, tribal law enforcement, federal task forces, etc.; and
4. Heard best practices to implement a victim-centered and trauma-informed investigative approach.