Having an unbiased jury is essential to any trial. When trying cases involving immigrant victims of domestic or sexual violence, it is imperative that prosecutors develop a strategy to ensure that the jurors selected do not bear any prejudice against the victim and can understand the underlying dynamics of the case.
If you would like to learn more about law enforcement and prosecutor best practices, NIWAP hosts monthly virtual Roundtables for Law Enforcement and Prosecution only to discuss challenges and topics in the field with NIWAP’s law enforcement expert faculty. Through these Roundtables, law enforcement and prosecutors share strategies and develop plans for working with immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Register for NIWAP’s Law Enforcement & Prosecutors Monthly Roundtable
Training Materials
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Sample Voir Dire Questions 1
- Sample Voir Dire Questions 2
- Sample Voir Dire Questions 3
Webinars
- In Accordance with the Law: When Your Victim Witness Speaks Limited English https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/in-accordance-lep-nov19
- U Visa: Overview of Certification Presented by Investigator Michael LaRiviere, Salem Police Department
- In order to reach this module you will need to sign-in for free access to course https://pbtraining.org/course/u-visa-overview-of-certification/
- The U Visa as a Crime-Fighting Tool: How Certification Improves Domestic and Sexual Violence Investigations and Prosecutions
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/u-visa-2020 - Battered Women’s Justice Program (BWJP) Assessing Helpfulness for Immigrant Crime Victims https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/april-10-2015-assessing-helpfulness-bwjp
- DHS U and T Visa Training Videos
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/dhs-roll-call-videos - Lessons Learned from Law Enforcement: How Collaborations That Result in U Visa Certifications Support Safer Communities
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/lessons-learned-from-le-webinar - Law Enforcement and Advocates Partnering to Better Serve Immigrant Crime Victims https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/webinar-law-enforcement-collaboration
- Law Enforcement Use of the U Visa (Podcast)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/uvisa-podcast-bja - An Introduction to Law Enforcement Use of the U-Visa
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/uvisa-intro-webinar-bja
Know Your Rights Information
- DHS Interactive Infographic on Protections for Immigrant Victims https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/infographic-on-protections-for-immigrant-victims
- DHS Brochure: Immigration Options for Victims of Crime
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-options-victims-of-crimes - Multilingual Materials for Victims and Advocates
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/multilingual-materials-by-title - Pathways to Immigration Relief for Students
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/screening-students-for-immigraiton-protections/ - Information on the Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence in the United States and Facts about Immigrating on a Marriage-Based Visa
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/marriage-based-legal-rights - Immigration Relief for Abused Children
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uscis_sijs_brochure
Prosecutor’s Tools Enhancing Work With Immigrant Crime Victims
- What’s Immigration Status Got to Do with It? Prosecution Strategies for Cases Involving Undocumented Victims
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pretrial-strategies-7-24-17-final-with-logos/ - VAWA Confidentiality and Criminal Cases: How Prosecutors Should Respond to Discovery Attempts for Protected Information
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/discovery-and-vawa-confidentiality-tool-final-7-24-17/ - Certifying Early: When Should You Sign a U or T Visa Certification for a Victim? https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/certifying-early-7-24-17-final-w-logo/
- Quick Reference Guide for Prosecutors: U Visa and VAWA Confidentiality Related Case Law https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/quick-reference-guide-for-prosecutors-u-visa-and-vawa-confidentiality/
- Family Court Bench Card on VAWA Confidentiality
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/family-court-bench-card-vawa-confidentiality
VAWA Confidentiality
- VAWA Confidentiality Statutes, Legislative History and Implementing Policy (Updated April 4, 2018)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-confidentiality-statutes-leg-history - Three Prongs of VAWA Confidentiality
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/conf-vawa-bro-3prongsofconfidentiality/ - Chapter 3 of Empowering Survivors: VAWA Confidentiality, History, Purpose, DHS Implementation, and Violations of VAWA Confidentiality Protections
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch3-vawa-confidentiality-history-purpose/ - Utilizing VAWA Confidentiality Protections in Family Court Proceedings**
https://www.civicresearchinstitute.com/online/article.php?pid=6&iid=1270\ - VAWA Self-Petitioning Timeline with Background Checks
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/3f-vawa-timeline-3-29-19/ - Quick Reference Guide for Judges: VAWA Confidentiality and Discovery Related Case Law
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/judges-vawa-confidentiality-cases-and-discovery/ - VAWA Confidentiality Protections, Courthouse Enforcement, and Sensitive Locations Policies at a Glance https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-protections-in-state-courts-and-cases/
- Quick reference: VAWA Confidentiality Protections – Quoting Statutes Regulations and Department of Homeland Security Policies
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/federal-law-quotes-vawa-confidentiality-protections_3-29-19/
U and T visas
- DHS: U and T Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/dhs-updated-u-certification-resource-guide-2015 - U-Visa Toolkit for Law Enforcement Agencies and Prosecutors
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisatoolkit-police-prosecutors - International Association of Chiefs of Police 2018 Resolution on Education and Awareness of U and T Visa Certifications
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/iacp-support-for-education-and-awareness-on-u-visa-certifications-and-t-visa-declarations/ - Model Policy for Interactions with Immigrant Victims of Crime and Human Trafficking & Signing of U Visa Certifications and T Visa Declarations
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/proposed-model-u-visa-policy/ - Discussion Paper for Model Policy for Working with Immigrant Victims of Crime and Human Trafficking & Signing of U Visa Certifications and T Visa Declarations
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/discussion-paper-model-policy-u-visa-certification-may-2016/ - USCIS U Visa Certification Factsheet Q&A
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-relief-victims-trafficking-and-other - Blue Campaign: What You Can Do- Recognizing and Supporting Trafficking Victims in the Courtroom
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/bc-pamphlet-judicial-english - U-Visa Flow Chart
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisaflowchart/ - T-Visa Flow Chart
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/t-visa-application-flowchart - U-Visa Family Member Sponsors
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-family-member - T-Visa Family Member Sponsors
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/t-visa-family-member - DHS Policy Answers to Law Enforcement Reasons for Not Certifying https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/dhs-answers-to-reasons-for-not-certifying
- U Visa News Articles
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-news-articles/ - U-Visa Checklist: “Helpfulness”
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-helpfulness-chcklist - Glossary of Terms
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-tools-bjaglossoryofterms - U Visa Certifications: Range of Potential Certifiers
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-range-of-potential-fcertifiers - U-Visa Legal Advocacy: Overview of Effective Policies and Practices https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-collaboration-policy-brief/
- Press Release on the U Visa – Template
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-qref-policedeptstraining - U Visa Resource List
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/resource-list-with-logo - U Visa Certification Tool Kit for Federal, State, and Local Judges, Commissioners, Magistrates, and Other Judicial Officers (2017)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-certification-tool-kit-federal-state-local-judges-magistrates - Sample Questions for Identifying a Trafficked/Enslaved Person https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/questions-for-identifying-trafficked-or-enslaved-persons/
- Promoting Access to Justice for Immigrant Crime Victims and Children: Findings of a National Judicial Survey and Recommendations
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/trends-in-state-courts-survey-findings/ - 2017 New U and T Visa Application and Certification Forms (January and February 2017) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/2017-u-cert-forms/
- U Visa Timeline with Background Checks
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-timeline/ - Tip Sheet for Courts Developing U Visa Certification Protocols
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/wp-content/uploads/Tips-for-Courts-U-Visa-Cert-Protocols-Policies.pdf - T Visa Timeline with Background Checks
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/t-visa-timeline/
Forms
- DHS: Instructions for Form I-914, Supplement B
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/i-916-supplement-b-instructions - DHS: Form I-914, Supplement B for T visa Endorsement
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/i-914-supplement-b-instructions - DHS: Form I-918, Supplement B, for U visa Certification
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/i918-supb-certification - DHS: Instructions for Form I-918, Supplement B, for U visa Certification https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/instructions-i1918-unonimm-status
U Visa as a Crime-fighting Tool
- Stories From the Field: The Crime Fighting Effectiveness of the U Visa (August 27, 2020) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-crime-fighting-stories
- The Importance of the U-visa as a Crime-Fighting Tool for Law Enforcement Officials – Views from Around the Country
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-crime-fighting-tool - Overcoming Fear and Building Trust With Immigrant Communities and Crime Victims (Police Chief Magazine April 2018)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/policechief_april-2018_building-trust-immigrant-victims/ - Protecting Our Communities and Officer Safety
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/may_june_sheriff - COPS Dispatch Article: The U visa: An important tool for Community Policing https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-community-policing-tool/
- How Law Enforcement Is Using the U-Visa Practice Brief
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-qref-uvisapracticebrief-10-11 - State U Visa Certification Laws
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/state-u-visa-certification-laws/ - U and T Visa Certifications and Certification Reporting Requirements in California: https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ca-t-u-reporting-requirements
- Bench Card: U and T Visa Certification Reporting Requirements in California: https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ca-bench-card-u-t-reporting
Forms of Immigration Relief
- Bench Card: Overview of Types of Immigration Status
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/bchcrd-immstatustypes - Family Court Bench Card on Immigration Rights of Battered Spouses, Children and Immigrant Crime Victims https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/judg-tkit-bchcrdvictimsimmrights10-11-13
- Blue Card: Screening for Victims Who Qualify for Immigration Protective Relief (Squad Car Screening Tool) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/screening-tool-victims-qualify
- Prosecutorial Discretion: Certain Victim, Witnesses and Plaintiffs https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/discretion-victims-witnesses-plaintiffs/
Screening Tools and Collaboration
- Information on the Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence in the US and Facts about Immigrating on a Marriage-based Visa
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/marriage-based-legal-rights - Brochure: Continued Presence & Temporary Immigration Status for Victims of Human Trafficking https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/continued-presence-temp-imm-status
- Immigrant and LEP Victims’ Access to the Criminal Justice System https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/importance-of-collaboration-victims
- U Visa Legal Advocacy: Overview of Effective Policies and Practices https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-collaboration-policy-brief
- Building Trusting Relationships: A Guide for Advocates/Attorneys Working with Law Enforcement (LE) on U-Visa Certification Issues (Flow Chart)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/advocate-law-enforcement-guide - Comparison Chart of U visa, T Visa, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petition, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/chart-vawa-t-u-sijs-daca/
Language Access
- Code of Conduct for Court Interpreters- Washington State Interpreters Program https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/lang-lawpol-interpconductcode1986/
- Questions to Use for Crime Scene Identification of LEP
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/crime-scene-identification-of-lep-persons - Dos and Don’ts to Help Identify LEP Persons
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/dos-and-donts-to-identify-lep-persons - Language Identification Card – DeKalb County Magistrate Court’s Compliance Project, Caminar Latino, Men Stopping Violence, Raksha, Inc, Tapestri, Inc, and Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/language-id-card-19010116-raksha-pdf/
- Laws Governing Law Enforcement Agency Provision of Language Assistance to LEP Persons https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/laws-governing-langauge-access
- Important Tips to Remember When Using an Interpreter https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/interpretation-tips
- NAJIT Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/najitcodeofethicsfinal
- S. Department of Justice Sample Limited English Proficiency Guidelines from Office of Justice Programs “Center City Police Department”
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/sample-limited-english-proficiency-guidelines-from-the-office-of-justice-programs - Steps for Obtaining Interpreters
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/step-for-obtaining-interpreters - Tips for Working Effectively with Telephone Interpreters
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-qref-workingwithtelephoneinterp - Are you Compliant with Title VI Self-Assessment Tool
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/self-assessment-tool-title-vi - Why Using an Interpreter is Beneficial to Law Enforcement
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/law-enforcement-benefits-of-qualified-interpreters - DOJ Letter to State Chief Justices and State Court Administrators on Access for Limited English Proficient Persons to State Court Proceedings
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/lang-access-doj-courts-letter - Judicial Bench Card for Court Interpretation
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ncsc-bench-card-language-access - Serving Limited English Proficient Immigrant Victims**
https://www.civicresearchinstitute.com/online/article.php?pid=6&iid=12699
VAWA Self-Petition
- VAWA Self-Petitioning Flow Chart for Child Applicants
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-flow-chart-child/ - Flowchart: VAWA Self-Petitioning Eligibility for Elder Abuse Survivors https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-self-petitioner-elder-abuse-flow-chart-6-17-19-pdf/
- Flowchart: VAWA Self-Petitioning Eligibility for Adults
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-self-petitioner-flow-chart-for-adults-6-17-19-pdf/ - Battering or Extreme Cruelty: Drawing Examples from Civil Protection Order and Family Law Cases https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/extreme-cruelty-examples-protection-order-2/
- VAWA Self-Petitioning Introduction and Flow Charts
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-self-petitioning-intro-and-flow-charts-pdf/
Public Benefits
- State-Funded Public Benefits Comparison Chart (April 12, 2021) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/state-benefits-comparison-chart
- State by State Demographics
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/demographics/ - State by State Public Benefits Charts
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/all-state-public-benefits-charts/ - Interactive State Benefits Map
https://map.niwap.org/ - Guide to the Public Benefits Map
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/guide-to-public-benefits-map/ - Privacy Protections for Immigrants Applying for Public Benefits https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/privacy-protections-reporting-and-public-benefits/
- Anti-Discrimination Provisions That Apply to Programs Receiving Federal Funding Services Victims of Violence Against Women Crimes
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pb-tool-antidiscrimlaws/ - Programs Open to Immigrant Victims and All Immigrants Without Regard to Immigration Status https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/programs-open-to-all-immigrants/
- Flow Chart Public Charge Test and Housing benefits
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/flow-chart-public-charge-test-housing-benefits-2 - Infographic Public Charge and Housing Benefits
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/final-infographic-public-charge-and-housing-3
**If you have difficulty accessing this publication please contact for assistance NIWAP at (202) 274-4457 or info@niwap.org