*Training Tools for Prosecutors on the U Visa, VAWA and Criminal Court Discovery (June 2023)

AEquitas, The Prosecutor’s Resource on Violence Against Women and the National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Center, American University, Washington College of Law have created tools for prosecutors working on cases involving immigrant crime victims.  The development of these tools was funded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice.

What’s Immigration Status Got to Do with It? Prosecution Strategies for Cases Involving Undocumented Victims (July 24, 2017)

Relevancy of a Victim’s Immigration Status in State Criminal Court Proceedings (August 24, 2022)

VAWA Confidentiality and Criminal Cases: How Prosecutors Should Respond to Discovery Attempts for Protected Information (July 24, 2017)

Certifying Early: When Should You Sign a U or T Visa Certification for a Victim? (July 24, 2017)

VAWA Confidentiality and Discovery Cases (October 18, 2022)

Quick Reference Guide for Prosecutors: U Visa and VAWA Confidentiality Related Case Law (July 24, 2017)

Utilizing VAWA Confidentiality Protections in Family and Also Criminal Court Cases (February 17, 2017)

How to Argue or Rule on VAWA Confidentiality Protections in Discovery Involving Immigrant Survivors (November 18, 2022)

Family Court Bench Card on VAWA Confidentiality

Useful power point presentation on the subject: Albuquerque, NM: “U-Visa Certifications: Helpful Tool for Prosecuting Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases” (April 11, 2017) 

For more information on VAWA confidentiality and Discovery see:

Discovery and Use of Immigration Protected Information in Court Checklist (2019)

How VAWA Confidentiality Impacts Discovery in Cases Involving Immigrant Survivors (updated November 18, 2022)

Webinar: VAWA Confidentiality and Protections for Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence (October 31, 2017)

For more on U  and T visa certification see also:

U visa Certification and T Visa Declaration Toolkit for Law Enforcement Agencies and Prosecutors (August 30, 2021) 

U Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide (February 28, 2022) (DHS publication for all certifiers including prosecutors)

T-Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide (October 20,2021) (DHS publication for all certifiers including prosecutors)

DHS U and T Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide (November 30, 2015) (Contains additional more detailed information from DHS on U and T visa certification)

Full list of training materials for prosecutors and law enforcement on work with cases involving immigrant survivors:   Training Materials for Prosecutors

Law Enforcement, Prosecutor and Systems-Based Victim Advocate Podcast Series https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/niwap-podcast-series

Technical Assistance and Training Flyer – Law Enforcement and Prosecutors (September 27, 2021) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ta-flyer-lea

For technical assistance for prosecutors on U and T Visa certification, timing, criminal case discovery and VAWA confidentiality contact NIWAP at 202-274-4457 or info@niwap.org  and NIWAP’s and/or AEquitas staff attorneys will assist you.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2014-TA-AX-K030 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.