The Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA) has completed the second phase of the Compendium of Resources for Sexual Assault (CORSA II). The evidence-based, victim-centered training strategies and tools are for professionals working with sexual assault victims throughout the State of Texas.
Addressing sexual assault crimes is one of the most significant public health and social justice imperatives facing our society. This project addressed the need for strengthening the availability and specificity of learning tools to improve responses to sexual assault survivors. Research indicates high rates of re-victimization of survivors when they formally report or engage in the criminal justice systems
IDVSA began working on CORSA resources in 2018 to train prosecutors, law enforcement, and victim services providers to improve their understanding, engagement, and practices with sexual assault victims.
IDVSA produced six decision cases and curricula, an additional decision case on-campus law enforcement response to sexual assault, 13 quick-reference briefing sheets, and five training videos.
The second phase of the CORSA project expanded the videos created in the first phase, research and writing of additional decision cases in campus settings, training, and technical assistance, and extensive dissemination and marketing of the resources created. These activities increased the accessibility and usability of the tools by Texas professionals in the field of sexual assault response.
This project expanded on the evidence-based, trauma-informed Compendium of Resources on Sexual Assault (CORSA) for professionals working with victims of sexual assault. This project also provided high-quality, evidence-based, engaging training videos for professionals in the field. All videos draw on the expertise of professionals from law enforcement, attorneys, and victim advocates who work in the field of sexual assault response. The videos educate fellow professionals on five major topics frequently encountered in sexual assault cases: 1) the role of drugs and alcohol in sexual assault cases, 2) sexual assault by a current or former intimate partner, 3) cases involving conflicting accounts of consent, 4) multidisciplinary collaboration in responding to sexual assault, and 5) the neurobiology of trauma in victims of sexual assault. The videos are designed to engage various professionals, including prosecutors, civil attorneys, law enforcement, advocates, SANEs, and members of a grand jury when facing these challenging topics related to sexual assault. The videos have been distributed to various partner agencies, made available via online platforms like Vimeo and YouTube, and distributed via email campaigns, direct marketing, and social media.
Evidence-based, trauma-informed, victim-centered strategies are needed. There is ample evidence that suggests that victims do better when professionals are adequately trained with practical and meaningful knowledge and equipped to implement that knowledge. This project has made recommendations for progressive and innovative intervention tools with an eye toward better serving victims of sexual assault.