SEXUAL ASSAULT EXPERT WITNESS / SEXUAL
HARASSMENT CONSULTING SERVICES
TRAINING
IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION / RESEARCH AND EVALUATION
I am also available to serve as an expert witness in cases involving sexual assault, whether criminal or civil. I can testify to the general dynamics of sexual assault victimization, the impact on victims and common reactions and behaviors.
· Based on the widespread and powerful rape myths in society, jurors often have certain expectations about rape, rape victims, and rape perpetrators. For example, jurors often expect the case to fit with their stereotype of “real rape,” with a violent rape perpetrated by a stranger, in a dark alley, with a weapon, and resulting in physical injury. They expect the victim to be hysterically upset by the incident and report it to police immediately.
· When presented with a case and victim that do not correspond to this stereotype, jurors can easily doubt the credibility of the victim and the veracity of the case.
Therefore, it can be extremely helpful for jurors to have an expert on sexual assault explain the realistic dynamics of the crime and common reactions of victims. I can also assist attorneys in evaluating their case and developing a trial strategy.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT CONSULTING SERVICES
I have worked for several years with Harrington & Associates (www.pennyharrington.com), a private consulting firm specializing in employment discrimination and sexual harassment, with particular emphasis on police organizations. Based on that experience and my expertise in sexual harassment and psychological research, I can assist organizations in a variety of ways:
I am available to review policies and procedures with respect to sexual harassment and other forms of employment discrimination, conduct a fact-finding investigation when an allegation is made, make recommendations and assist with mediation to resolve the problem.
· I can conduct confidential, state-of-the-art employee surveys to investigate the prevalence of potential problems sexual harassment and employment discrimination, determine the impact on victims, and find out what employees think about the organization’s policies and practices in this area. Analysis of this data will yield specific recommendations to improve the climate for employees and the organizational response to these problems.
· I am available to serve as an expert witness to testify to the common dynamics of sexual harassment and retaliation, their impact on victims, and the appropriate organizational response. I can also consult on the case to identify its strengths and weaknesses.
· I also have particular expertise in curriculum design, with a basis in psychological research and the principles of adult education. I can therefore assist organizations in creating, reviewing, implementing, and evaluating training programs on a variety of topics, including the prevention and investigation of sexual harassment complaints.
TRAINING IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION
I can also offer a full-day or half-day training program for employees and supervisors on sexual harassment prevention. Participants will learn about the relevant law, the causes and dynamics of sexual harassment, the organization’s policy on sexual harassment, and how to recognize and respond to inappropriate behaviors in the workplace.
· Because of my expertise in the principles of adult education, training is designed to be interactive and focus on developing and practicing real skills that can be transferred into the workplace setting.
· For example, interactive training methods include: lecture, videotapes, small group exercises, class discussion, written tests, and other methods of assessing knowledge and skills.
Training can also be tailored to individual needs, to address unique organizational problems or settings.
I also have extensive experience in conducting methodologically rigorous research and program evaluation. For example, I could assist organizations with:
· Designing, conducting, and writing a report on the organizational climate of a particular workplace as it pertains to issues of gender and racial equity.
· Evaluating training programs in sexual harassment or workplace diversity, using outcome measures that are tailored to the unique needs and realities of an organization.
· Conducting and interpreting statistical analyses with respect to measures of workplace characteristics or performance.
Based on my unique experience with research in real world settings, I am able to provide research products that are both scientifically rigorous yet meaningful for those seeking to better understand the workplace and implement policy, training, or procedural changes.