Victims' Rights Education
The Office of Victim Services hosts accredited presentations intended for criminal justice providers who work directly with, or parallel to, crime victims. Our presentations reflect our authority to educate the community regarding the complexities of victims’ rights statute, compliance with law, and extending providers’ knowledge to crime victims served. Please note that our LAST monthly Basic and Advanced Victims’ Rights presentations for federal fiscal year 2025 will be hosted in July. Future presentation dates will be scheduled this fall. If you would like to be notified of future dates posted, please email [email protected] and you will be added to the listserv.
Basic Victims' Rights
About: Basic Victims' Rights is presented from 9AM to 3PM with a one hour break for lunch. This presentation is highly recommended for employees new to victims' rights or for anyone who needs a refresher. Content covers fundamental information about victims' rights for adult and juvenile crimes in Arizona.
Agenda: History, Legal Definitions, Victims’ Journey through the Justice System with Applicable Rights/Responsibilities, Pre-Conviction/Adjudication and Post-Conviction/Adjudication, Restitution
Advanced Victims’ Rights
About: Advanced Victims’ Rights is presented in a 3-hour session. The training will first cover updates from the 2024 legislative session that affect victim service providers before shifting focus to identifying complexities in the law. Participants will review information regarding the legislative process, how to locate and read laws, and identifying the complexities of victims’ rights laws. Participants will contextualize this new knowledge by working through a series of scenarios.
Agenda: Legislative Updates; Reading Victims’ Rights; The Two Opt-In System; Mutual Combat; Lawful Representatives; Dismissals & the Right to Confer; Failure to Comply
Basic
Statewide - Basic
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
https://www.bigmarker.com/attorney-generals-office/basic-victims-rights-ffy26?show_live_page=true
Advanced
Statewide - Advanced
9:00am – 12:00 p.m.
https://www.bigmarker.com/attorney-generals-office/advanced-victims-rights-ffy26?show_live_page=true
You may also Request a Presentation! Please note that any presentations scheduled may be open for registration statewide.
Webinar Participation Requirements:
- You must register for the webinar as an individual. Please ensure you enter the webinar using your own unique link listed in your registration confirmation email. Do not share your webinar link with anyone. If you do not use your own unique link, your attendance cannot be verified and credit cannot be provided to you
- Please ensure you enter the webinar using Firefox or Chrome.
- If you enter the webinar more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time or exit more than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled end time, you will not be able to receive credit for attendance.
- You must be in attendance and actively participate for the duration of the training to receive credit.
- By entering the webinar, you agree to cooperate in maintaining a professional learning environment.
Description: This interactive simulation activity has garnered national attention for its innovative approach to victims’ rights education. Participants will be guided through the criminal justice system while obtaining a more in-depth look at Victims’ Rights Laws in the State of Arizona. Participants will get out of their silos and apply statutes while discussing victim perspectives at all levels of a case.
Audience: All criminal justice and community-based providers; victims’ rights attorneys and staff
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “Using the exercise as a simulator of the victim journey gives a small glimpse into the uncertainty the victim goes through.”
Description: This presentation covers an overview of victims’ involvement in the criminal justice system, with a focus on probation’s statutory obligations for Arizona crime victims. *COJET approved*
Audience: Probation and court staff
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “The discussion overall was most useful to my everyday job- especially the statute.” ; “It was helpful getting confirmation about what we are required to do and confirmation on what information we are able to provide to victims.”
Description: This presentation provides an overview of victims’ rights in Arizona throughout criminal appeals, with an emphasis on the direct appeal process and notification by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry. This presentation highlights a prison-specific case study that explores how victims are impacted by this process.
Audience: All criminal justice and victim service providers; post-conviction agencies; victims’ rights attorneys and staff
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “I loved this presentation. The organization was so well done, giving us the process followed by an example and then discussing the impact before moving on to the next step in the process. That [was an] incredibly effective manner of presentation which really highlighted how I in my role within a trial court fit into the larger picture.”
Description: This training provides practical knowledge regarding the victimization of vulnerable, elderly adults. Participants will become more aware of known scams or means of victimizing this population, how to best work with elders as they interact with the criminal justice system, applicable victims’ rights in Arizona, and resources for a provider’s toolkit.
Audience: All criminal justice providers; those working with elder victims of crime including community-based providers; victims’ rights attorneys and staff
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “This presentation was outstanding. I finally attended a COJET and kept my attention with all the needed information.”
Description: This training provides information about capital cases from trial through execution. It is presented to enhance understanding of what victims of capital crimes will face in capital cases and ensure that advocates are equipped to prepare victims for that process in the transition from the trial to the post-conviction phase.
Audience: All criminal justice providers; post-conviction agencies
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “Information on the steps that must be completed that make it clear how/why victims may feel frustrated, not heard, etc., throughout the process. The videos were interesting to provide perspective.” ; “The information needing to be covered was heavy and you made it interesting and provided safe spaces for people to have conversations, while explaining the expectations & healthy boundaries. Great balance and excellent presentation - thank you for your professionalism.”
Description: This training provides a more in-depth look at victims’ rights that have been identified as challenging to interpret and provide. Participants will have the opportunity to work together to brain storm solutions and learn about other practices around the state.
Audience: All criminal justice providers
Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
What people are saying: “The content was delivered in an interactive, collaborative way that helped support my understanding and retention of the information.” ; “It was a GREAT Training and helpful knowledge for myself and staff to be mindful of in our day-to-day work. Even if it's something folks have already heard before, it's always nice to be reminded of - especially if it's in regards to something that doesn't happen often with their work / caseload or not an area that they typically work in.”
Description: This presentation provides an overview of victimization and examines key components of Arizona's criminal justice process that grant victims the right to participate. Attendees will gain insight into how trauma may influence victims' interactions with criminal justice entities and will review scenarios designed to enhance their ability to assist victims in determining if and how to exercise their rights.
Audience: All criminal justice providers; advocates; victims’ rights attorneys and staff
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “I enjoyed reviewing the scenarios and talking through examples of situations my peers faced.”
Description: Vicarious trauma, that caused by the frequent and ongoing exposure to the trauma suffered by others, affects attorneys and judges at high rates, impacting their professional and personal lives. Through an interactive examination of the Rules of Professional Conduct, this presentation will offer attendees a basic understanding of vicarious trauma, how it can affect their work, and how to integrate self-care and resiliency into their everyday lives to mitigate its affect and avoid burnout.
Audience: All levels and/types of attorneys; judges; victims’ rights attorneys and staff; anyone interested in vicarious trauma & self-care
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “I think these topics are so important to acknowledge in fields where these are taboo and long overlooked. I could have used this presentation to help validate my own feelings years ago!” ; “I love the approach - applying the impact of Vs on our ethical obligations. I had never considered this. I plan on bringing this back to my organization and will encourage conversations with our leadership. Thank you!”
Description: This presentation provides a brief overview of the historical development and current process and goals of the Victims’ Rights Complaints Program at the Attorney General’s Office. This interactive training includes a choice of 1 of 2 activities that review common areas of non-compliance and will offer suggestions for supervisors and leaders to implement in order to prevent non-compliance in their offices.
Audience: Those who have completed Basic in the last 5 years; leadership in criminal justice victim services; victims’ rights attorneys and staff
Duration: 1.5 hours
Description: This training provides a more in depth look at restitution in the state of Arizona and helps the participants apply statutes and mandated duties to their respected roles in victim services. Attendees will obtain useful tools to apply in various restitution scenarios, empowering victims to actualize their constitutional right to “prompt” restitution.
Audience: All criminal justice providers; victims’ rights attorneys and staff
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “I like being reminded of the different ways in which restitution can be requested, especially to make sure victims feel supported in their request.” ; “The restitution and victim rights were interesting. It gives us a better understanding of the rights and helps us speak and help victims better.”
Description: This presentation provides an overview of victims’ rights within the juvenile justice system. It will enhance understanding of what victims face when their offender is a juvenile, as well as the differences between the adult and juvenile systems. *COJET approved*
Audience: Juvenile justice-specific criminal justice providers
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “I have limited experience with the juvenile justice system so this was all new to me-- it was easy to follow along with the presentation. I appreciated having the case law and statutory citations listed. I also really liked the victim video.”
Description: This presentation provides information to peace officers on their obligations under victims’ rights laws, including instructions on completing the Victims’ Rights Request/Waiver form. In addition, it will provide an opportunity to explore various scenarios officers will encounter to determine applicable victims’ rights. Ultimately, the presentation prepares officers to better serve victims and ensuring their rights.
Audience: Law enforcement officers; crisis/law enforcement advocates
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “[I enjoyed] every part, especially the information concerning the notice rights and how prevalent it is to the victims.”
Description: This training provides a more in depth look at the Post-Conviction process in the state of Arizona, especially with regards to victims’ rights. Participants will have the opportunity to walk through case examples and hear about details of post-conviction relief, appeals, the Board of Executive Clemency, probation and correction processes in Arizona.
Audience: All criminal justice providers; victims’ rights attorneys and staff
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “The explanation of the post-conviction process—I can explain to a victim how it works much better now.” ; “Case studies, examples, and walk-through process of appeals process was incredibly useful.”
Description: This training provides fundamental and basic information about victims’ rights in the state of Arizona, presented in a manner suitable for college, university, or more of an informal atmosphere.
Audience: All criminal justice providers; new victim service providers; students
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “I really liked when we applied our knowledge and were given examples. I really liked the handouts, they were very helpful.” ; “I was most interested in the laws associated since those are harder to comprehend. I enjoyed thoroughly! The case examples/scenarios were excellent.”
Description: This presentation provides an in-depth look at how victims of crime have shaped the law by highlighting prominent national and AZ criminal cases where victims have turned tragedy into action. Participants will learn about how victims of crime have used their experiences to make changes in criminal justice system procedures, perceptions and laws to help ensure a better system for future victims. By hearing first-hand from victims who have created change and shared action-based advice, participants looking to make change within the criminal justice system will recognize movements taken that inspired our current laws and energize those looking to make a change.
Audience: All criminal justice providers
Duration: 1.5 hours
What people are saying: “Understanding the cases, what went wrong with them, who fought for change, and the results. Using examples of cases was interesting and useful.”
Systems-based advocates are required to attend Basic every 5 years and Advanced annually. Community-based advocates are required to attend Basic every 5 years and are recommended to attend Advanced annually.
Yes. All OVS Education trainings are accredited by VOCA, AZPOST, and COJET.
Additionally, these trainings are eligible for continuing education (CE) units for the National Advocate Credentialing Program and the DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program, both administered by the National Organization for Victim Advocacy. For more information about credentialing, you may go to https://trynova.org/credentialing/.
Note: Participants who are seeking Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit must meet certain criteria. You must be present for the entire presentation, as no partial credit will be given. If you are an attorney seeking CLE credit, please visit: https://www.azbar.org/cleandmcle/cle/ to ensure you meet the criteria. If you qualify for CLE credit, please contact [email protected] to request a CLE certificate and one will be provided to you upon verification of your attendance.
Yes. Using the “Request a Presentation” section on our website, you can fill out a form indicating what type of presentation you’d like, some possible dates (note that these dates are not guaranteed and will depend on the availability of the Education Administrators), if you are seeking an in-person or virtual presentation, and for what agency. Upon receiving your request, an Education Administrator will reach out to you to discuss further.
No. In order to receive credit for attending the webinar, each person must register and attend using their own unique link; otherwise, the Education Administrators cannot verify that you attended and participated. If you already attended a presentation with a coworker, you’ll need to re-register for another date and attend using your own link.
The suggested browsers for BigMarker are Firefox or Chrome. To ensure your internet browser is up to date, please test your connection prior to the training start time.
Please email [email protected] and let us know the date of the training you’d like to un-register for.
If you enter the webinar more than 15 minutes late or exit more than 15 minutes early, you will not be able to receive credit and will need to sign up for another training date.
The Education Administrators are required to verify everyone’s attendance and participation in order to provide credit for VOCA, AZPOST and/or COJET. We have opted to use the attendance monitor as a simple alternative to requiring all participants have access to a webcam and microphone.
The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) oversees each county’s Victim Compensation program. To find more information about the program, including each county’s contact information, visit https://www.azcjc.gov/Programs/Victim-Services/Compensation-Program. If you are required to take their training, you may do so by going to https://www.azcjc.gov/Programs/Victim-Services/Computer-Based-Training and choose “Introduction to Crime Victim Compensation”.
We do not give out the Powerpoint for any presentation; however, each participant will receive a comprehensive workbook (pdf fillable for webinar participants) with the information in the Powerpoint and room for notes.
If you need a copy of a handbook, please email [email protected] and provide the date and name of the presentation. The Education Administrators will verify your attendance and provide you with a copy of the handbook.
If you’re having issues registering for a training or entering an upcoming training using your own unique link, please email [email protected] prior to the training start time for assistance. Registration for a training is open until the start time of that training.
We ask that you provide a specific date range you participated in the presentation. We will only provide a copy of a Basic certificate obtained in the last 2 years, and an Advanced certificate in the last 1 year. If your last training is outside of this window, please register for a new date.