Expert Witness Course On Non-Fatal Strangulation

Dear Friends, 

In this E-News, we are so excited to share some highlights from our Expert Witness Course on Non-Fatal Strangulation, sponsored by the Office on Violence Against Women. 

The Expert Course was held on May 5-7 hosted at the Tulsa Case Family Safety Center which is one of the newest Family Justice Center/Child Advocacy Center campuses in the country! Suzann Stewart, the visionary Director of the Tulsa Family Safety Center was an amazing host. This new center is now one of the largest in the nation and is an excellent model for a Family Justice Center. 

We were fortunate to be joined by an outstanding team of trainers, including Dr. Bill Worden, an ER physician and EMS Director from Oklahoma; Laura Zimm, a Deputy Public Defender from Minnesota; and retired Napa Police Detective Bill Hernandez from California. We also had the luxury of working with Kathy Bell, a forensic nurse who started the first Forensic Medical Unit at the Tulsa Safety Center when it was part of the President’s Family Justice Center Initiative and Caryn Burton, Homicide Reduction Strategies Coordinator from Indiana. And, of course, our Co-Founders, Casey Gwinn and Gael Strack, shared their expertise and insights throughout the training, helping attendees deepen their understanding on these important topics. This sold out training brought in a total of 55 attendees. Attendees represented 17 states across the country, with the highest participation coming from Oklahoma, Utah, and California. The training brought together professionals from a wide range of disciplines, including legal services, advocacy, medical, law enforcement, and others. Medical professionals made up the largest group of attendees.

Attendees got to hear from our trainers on recent legal developments, including reviews of successful cases in which expert testimony played a critical role. Several of these cases featured our very own trainers themselves serving as expert witnesses. Another focus of the training was curriculum vitae development. Participants had the opportunity to receive feedback on their own CVs, with reviews and suggested edits provided by our training team.

Attendees gained valuable insight into the defense perspective, helping them better understand what to expect during cross-examination and how opposing counsel may approach their testimony. The training also included an overview of the medical aspects of expert testimony, emphasizing how experts can effectively explain medical concepts and terminology while remaining within the scope of their expertise. One of the highlights of the training was a live mock trial and expert testimony demonstration. Thanks to the Family Safety Center's courtroom, attendees were able to experience a realistic courtroom environment while observing expert witness testimony in action.

In addition, attendees participated in hands on exercises with their peers, practicing direct and cross-examination, and evaluating case scenarios to determine appropriate expert witnesses. By the conclusion of the course, our goal was for attendees to feel more confident and prepared with expert testimony to strengthen their cases involving non-fatal strangulation. Please see below some feedback from the course! 

Overall, our 2026 Expert Witness Course was an outstanding success. We are deeply grateful to the Office on Violence Against Women for sponsoring this training, the Family Safety Center for their exceptional hospitality and support, and our dedicated trainers and attendees whose expertise, engagement, and commitment made this experience truly impactful. Thank you for your continued dedication to this work. Together, we are building safer communities, supporting survivors, and serving as hope givers. 



Always with Great Hope, 

Catherine, Casey, Gael, Joe, Jess, Fernanda and Jahlyssa 

Feedback From Attendees

"This was exactly what I needed to feel confident in my knowledge and abilities."

"The enthusiasm displayed by Gael & Casey was infectious! I can't wait until I get my next opportunity to testify on strangulation - I am so ready! I have testified many times in court and have qualified a handful of time as an expert witness on strangulation. This course reinforced for me that I DO possess the knowledge & know-how to continue doing what I'm doing with just a whole lot more confidence, which is where I have previously struggled. The courtroom session was also a boost in confidence for me because even the true experts got tangled up in some of the wording during direct and cross! Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness in designing this course."

"This was an amazing class, and I am very grateful for having the opportunity to have been a part of it. My goal is to continue to learn, educate and be the best advocate I can be for survivors of D.V., Stalking, S.A., Stalking and Strangulation."

"Enjoyed the training from start to finish. I will be sure to recommend!"

Expert Witness Course On Non-Fatal Strangulation Class # 4

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Alliance for HOPE International is one of the leading social change and advocacy organizations in the U.S. and internationally, creating innovative, collaborative, and hope-centered solutions to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking.

This project is supported all or in part by Grant No.15JOVW-23-GK-05151-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.