The Courage to Convict: Winning 101 for Child Abuse Prosecutors

Title slide for workshop titled "The Courage to Convict: Winning 101 for Child Abuse Prosecutors"

Brief Prosecuting child sexual abuse cases takes courage—and the skill to turn that courage into convictions. This workshop offers a start-to-finish blueprint for winning, from charging decisions to trial strategy, leaving participants equipped to pursue justice for the most vulnerable.

Suggested Audience: Prosecutors


Full Description: Prosecuting child sexual abuse cases demands courage—and the skill to turn that courage into convictions. This workshop delivers a start‑to‑finish blueprint for winning, covering charging decisions, pretrial motions, voir dire, openings and closings, cross‑examination, expert witnesses, preparing a child to testify, and more. Participants will leave ready to fight and win, armed with the strategies and courtroom tactics to deliver justice for the most vulnerable.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Apply effective strategies for opening statements, closing arguments, and jury persuasion throughout child sexual abuse trials.

  • Identify key pretrial motions and understand their tactical applications.

  • Implement best practices for preparing child witnesses to testify safely and effectively.

  • Integrate case strategy across the full prosecution timeline, from investigations and charging decisions to verdict and sentencing

Speaker(s): Robert Peters and/or Kathleen Nolan

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The Shield in the Courtroom: Preparing Child Witnesses for Testimony

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