Sexual Violence Justice Institute
The Sexual Violence Justice Institute provides expertise in the criminal justice and community response to sexual violence. System change—in protocol, procedures, and routine practice—is a key element to improving the response to sexual violence. We work with communities to create a comprehensive, victim-centered response through multidisciplinary collaborations, leadership development, training, and technical assistance.
Everyone experiences and responds to sexual violence differently, and agencies that respond to victims/survivors must be able to engage and support ALL victims/survivors in meaningful ways. We must be prepared to ensure that victims/survivors have access to services, justice, and healing options for the many different ways sexual violence impacts victims/survivors. We offer technical assistance to advocates, law enforcement, health professionals, prosecutors, and others to ensure they can provide trauma-informed and victim-centered services. To this end, SVJI also supports local innovations in the response to sexual violence, providing communities with tools, training, support, and information to make meaningful changes and improvements within their own systems.
We work with communities to create a comprehensive, victim-centered response through multidisciplinary collaborations, leadership development, training, and technical assistance.
Our Programs
As a state and national technical assistance provider for Minnesota Office of Justice Programs, Minnesota Department of Health Safe Harbor, and the Office of Violence Against Women, we share our decades of experience to increase knowledge and improve how responders work with victims/survivors and each other. We provide specialized support for:
Sexual Assault Response Teams
We host trainings, develop tools, offer opportunities for networking and resource-sharing, build connections, and provide consultation.
Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking
We develop resources, tools, and provide one-on-one assistance to prevent and response to sexual exploitation and trafficking.
Medical Response
We work to improve consistency regarding medical forensic exam access, quality, and payment processes for sexual assault victims/survivors.
STOP Administrators
We support the unique and important role sexual assault response leaders play in facilitating and leading change in their states or territories.
The Minnesota Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Project
We support multidisciplinary teams engaged in the comprehensive reform of jurisdictions' approaches to sexual assault cases resulting from evidence found in previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits.