Robert Peters
Investigation, Prosecution, Faith-Based Abuse, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Evidence, YPSB, Courtroom Testimony
About Robert
Robert Peters is a nonprofit executive and nationally recognized child protection professional focused on complex abuse cases, digital evidence, and institutional accountability. Robert began his career in the courtroom, serving as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Special Prosecutor in multiple West Virginia jurisdictions, where he specialized in the prosecution of sexual offenses, online child exploitation, child abuse and neglect, and youth with problematic sexual behavior.
Following that work, he developed training, tools, publications, and technical assistance for child abuse prosecutors and allied professionals across the United States through work with the Zero Abuse Project and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).
Robert has worked for GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) for over a decade as a civil investigator and now serves as the Director of Institutional Response, overseeing all independent third-party investigations. He is a prolific author of scholarly and practical publications relating to child abuse prosecution and investigation, and the founder of Coursing Justice, a training organization by and for criminal justice and child protection professionals.
While a prosecutor, Robert founded SHIELD Task Force, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with Child Advocacy Centers and local stakeholders to equip children and supportive adults with age-appropriate body and online safety guidance. He has also served as the Board Chair for multiple nonprofits, including the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network (WVCAN), and currently serves on the Project VIC International Board of Directors. He is the recipient of the Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation’s Donald A. Strong Man of the Year Award, and the WV State Police Center for Children's Justice Extra Mile Award.
Workshops, Courses & Keynotes
Search warrants are pivotal for securing the digital evidence that can make or break a child-exploitation case. This workshop explains how to choose the right legal process, draft precise warrants, navigate provider challenges, and avoid defects that jeopardize investigations.
Even when a child victim recants or cannot speak in court, prosecutors can prevail. This workshop delivers practical investigative and courtroom strategies to anticipate and address recantation, support children throughout the process, and secure convictions when a child cannot or will not testify. Participants will leave equipped to turn silence into strength in the courtroom.
Human trafficking investigations require specialized skills and innovative approaches to address the multifaceted nature of these crimes. This workshop equips investigators with the knowledge and tools to move cases from investigation to prosecution successfully.
AI is transforming criminal investigations, offering new capabilities while creating new risks. This session equips investigators and MDT members to use emerging tools ethically, recognize and address synthetic CSAM and other threats, and mitigate AI-driven risks in their work.
Build courtroom confidence and credibility with a workshop tailored for MDT members—especially law enforcement, social services, and forensic interviewers. You’ll learn practical strategies for cross-examination, avoid common testimony pitfalls, and sharpen clear, effective communication with judges and juries.
Despite the presence of corroborating evidence in every child sexual abuse case, child protection professionals often miss the full potential of this vital component. This workshop taught by a former prosecutor equips attendees to maximize various underutilized avenues of corroboration, focusing on forensic interviews, internet of things (IoT) devices, numerous other forms of digital evidence, and tools for practitioners.
Darkest Before Dawn cuts through the unrelenting challenges of child abuse work—online exploitation, AI-driven threats, strained systems—to show what’s actually shifting and why hope is warranted. It delivers grounded strategies, systemic clarity, and practical steps to move child advocacy from perpetual crisis toward lasting impact.
Religious or spiritual themes are often weaponized by perpetrators to justify the abuse of children, and are invoked to avoid accountability and consolidate power within faith communities. This workshop provides best practices, recent trends, and practical tips and corroboration strategies for MDTs to navigate these issues.
What People Are Saying
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MDT Member
“Robert is so knowledgeable. He’s honest, and brings innovative and valuable information to the table in an engaging fun way.”
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Forensic Interviewer
“I have been in some good trainings for this field, but this one [Forensic Interviewers in the Courtroom] is the best I've participated in to date. To be able to practice and get feedback is priceless.”
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Forensic Interviewer
“I appreciate Robert’s experience and intelligence and his very easy presentation style. So authentic and genuine.”
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Child Advocacy Center
“I thoroughly enjoyed this session as it provided very helpful information in an interactive and engaging way. The takeaways from this session to share with our local MDT and prosecution will be greatly helpful.”
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Law Enforcement
“I enjoyed the training and took key points that will help me with my investigations!”
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MDT Member
“I genuinely appreciated Robert’s passion for protecting children, it absolutely comes through when he speaks!”
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Victim Advocate
“Love how Robert Peters is a true advocate for the field of child abuse.”
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Child Protective Services
“Valuable information not only for prosecutors and law enforcement but also for social workers who see/speak to and investigate crimes against children.”
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Prosecutor
“Thank you for the best training that I have attended in over 20 years of prosecution.”
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Forensic Interviewer
“I really enjoyed the speaker. He was very experienced, researched, and charismatic.”
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Forensic Interviewer
“Robert’s interpersonal style is confident, informative, and very warm.”
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Law Enforcement
“Thank you! Far more powerful and informative than I thought possible. Highly recommend!”
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Child Advocacy Center
“The trainer's experience and expertise were obvious from the beginning. Well done!”
Media & Publications
The GRACE Awakening: Reckoning with Abuse in the Church explores the complex and often hidden dynamics of abuse and power within the church. Join the GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in a Christian Environment) team as we tackle tough questions and interview leading experts, journalists, and thinkers to dissect and navigate systemic issues and recurring patterns of harm in Christian contexts.
Robert Peters is the founder of Coursing Justice, an LLC that delivers state-of-the-art training and practical content to criminal justice professionals.
He also currently serves as the Director of Institutional Response at , a nonprofit that empowers Christian communities to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse.
During his time at Zero Abuse Project, Robert led the development of the most prolific national courses that equip prosecutors to utilize digital evidence in child exploitation and other felony cases.
September 29, 2025 — Hero’s Haven Child Advocacy Center held its annual crime scene training for police departments and prosecutors throughout the state in downtown Clarksburg on Monday, with a focus on investigating child deaths.
It has been nearly 20 years since the publication of Unto the Third Generation—approximately half-way through the first of three 40-year plans proposed by that article. This paper reviews the recommendations of Unto the Third Generation, details the significant reforms the article inspired, and also discusses where the article fell short and needs revision. Most importantly, it discusses whether or not Unto the Third Generation has contributed to a reduction of child abuse in the United States or has at least set a foundation which can achieve the ultimate goal.
Seeking to introduce a forensic interview is not an ancillary matter in child abuse prosecution. In many cases, it is the most critical, persuasive piece of evidence for the jury’s consideration. This guide will equip entry level prosecutors with an understanding of relevant admissibility law in their jurisdiction, and encourage seasoned prosecutors to take a fresh look at the several viable options for forensic interview admissibility.
Offers a comprehensive guide for prosecutors and law enforcement on navigating the complexities of obtaining remotely stored data, both domestically and internationally. This article provides an overview of relevant laws, including the Stored Communications Act and the CLOUD Act, and offers practical guidance on obtaining and using digital evidence in criminal investigations.
A chapter in the Handbook of Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan, a comprehensive state-of-the-science reference work for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. This two-volume handbook is written from a trauma-informed perspective, and utilizes adverse childhood experiences research as its basic developmental framework along with the traumatic effects all forms of interpersonal violence tend to produce.
The article profiles Robert Peters, a Liberty University law alumnus who, inspired by work with a child-abuse response organization, became a prosecutor focused on reducing human trafficking and child abuse and later co-founded the SHIELD Task Force to help end child abuse through training, prevention, and support.