Medical Forensic Exams for Incarcerated Survivors: PREA Case Studies


This webinar will be presented by: Angelita Olowu – IAFN, Cynthia Totten – Just Detention International, Marion Morgan – National PREA Resource Center, Monica DiGiandomenico – National PREA Resource Center

ANGELITA OLOWU – IAFN

Angelita Olowu is a Forensic Nurse with 12 years of nursing experience. She holds dual certifications as a SANE-A and a SANE-P. Currently, Angelita is a Forensic Nursing Specialist at the International Association of Forensic Nurses.  In this role she serves as a content expert, provides technical assistance on the recommendations within both the National Adolescent/Adult and Pediatric SAFE Protocols. In addition, Angelita teaches Indian Health Service and IAFN Adolescent/Adult and Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner didactic and clinical education.  In her previous role as a fulltime forensic nurse at Hillcrest Cleveland Clinic Hospital, Angelita provided education and leadership to the forensic nursing staff. She also provided guidance around her patient population to the Hospital and the community partners. Angelita has a background in Trauma and Emergency nursing. In her role as a forensic nurse she served patients whom have been victimized by sexual assault, domestic and intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, elder maltreatment, human trafficking, strangulation, physical assaults, and traumas with penetrating injuries. She provides community education and outreach to various entities including schools, colleges and universities, and other health care professionals on prevention and topics related to caring for those who have experienced trauma of personal violence. She has served as a member of a hospital based Domestic Violence Committee, a hospital-based Child Protection Team, and the Cuyahoga County Child Advocacy Center Advisory Committee. She is a member of the International Association of Forensic Nursing, the Emergency Nurses Association, the Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Response Team, the Civil Rights Task Force, and she serves on a committee with the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking and a chair for the Integrating Culture Committee with the Canopy Child Advocacy Center.

CYNTHIA TOTTEN – JUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL’

As JDI’s Deputy Executive Director in its Washington, D.C., office, Cynthia leads JDI’s national training and technical assistance program, supporting the work of state and tribal sexual assault coalitions, victim advocates, corrections officials, and funding administrators to ensure that incarcerated survivors have access to crisis services. Additionally, she works with corrections agencies on adopting policies that keep prisoners safe from sexual abuse. A lawyer with nearly two decades of experience in human and civil rights work, Cynthia also advocates to bring basic international human rights standards into U.S. prisons and jails, and has contributed to JDI’s federal policy and international programs.

MARION MORGAN – NATIONAL PREA RESOURCE CENTER

Marion Morgan, Associate Director of the National PREA Resource Center (PRC), joined the PRC in January 2014.Ms. Morgan is responsible for training and certification of National Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) auditors, providing continuing education, and ensuring certified auditors meet the requirements for certification compliance as prescribed by the US Department of Justice. She is also responsible for distributing current information related to the PREA auditing process and methodology to the corrections and law enforcement fields, developing and delivering PREA and sexual safety training to auditors, law enforcement and corrections fields, and responding to questions from the law enforcement and corrections professionals related to the interpretation and implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act standards. Ms. Morgan developed the United States Department of Justice’s (US DOJ) Field Training Program, a required part of the PREA Auditor certification training for auditors seeking their USDOJ auditor certification.

Prior to joining the PRC, in January 2013, Ms. Morgan was the PREA director for the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections (WIDOC). As such, Ms. Morgan was responsible for directing the department’s efforts toward PREA implementation, sexual safety operational practices, and PREA compliance. This included policy development, training and education of staff, inmates, residents, offenders, justice system partners, and community stakeholders about issue of sexual safety in confinement.

From August of 1981 until January of 2011, Ms. Morgan served 30 years as a police officer and detective with the Madison, Wisconsin Police Department. She started her law enforcement career as a patrol officer and was promoted to the position of detective in 1987. As a detective, her areas of investigative practice and training included financial crimes, narcotics crimes, sensitive crimes, and fire investigation. In the realm of sensitive crimes, Ms. Morgan investigated intimate partner crimes including stalking, strangulation, all forms of sexual abuse/domestic abuse crimes, and homicides. Ms. Morgan was a member of the local SART team that developed the medical forensic protocol to include medical forensic collection from perpetrators of sexual abuse and domestic abuse crimes. Ms. Morgan has worked to end sexual abuse in communities through community partnerships and education. She has focused on creating awareness and accountability around sexual safety and its impact on human rights for all people.

MONICA DIGIANDOMENICO – NATIONAL PREA RESOURCE CENTER

Monica DiGiandomenico is a senior program specialist with the National PREA Resource Center (PRC), working primarily with the Field Training Program, and Training and Technical Assistance Program. Prior to joining the PRC, Monica was the PREA Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice. She was responsible for leading the department’s efforts toward PREA implementation and compliance.

Previously, she was a contracted investigator/outreach specialist for the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section. Monica investigated patterns and practices, as well as compliance with consent decrees of law enforcement agencies, correctional agencies, and juvenile rights with the goal of protecting the civil rights of all people in these communities throughout the United States.

Monica has had the opportunity to work for both sides of the judicial system as a law enforcement officer and criminal defense investigator. She has over 11 years of law enforcement and investigative experience. She graduated cum laude from The University of Dayton in 2009 with a dual degree in criminal justice studies and sociology. She obtained her master’s in forensic science with a concentration in crime scene investigations from George Washington University in 2012. She earned her Department of Justice PREA Auditor certification for adult and juvenile facilities in May 2018.

 

Handout and Resources from the webinar:

Handout

 

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