Psychological Considerations When Working with Victims

This session is aimed at deepening one’s understanding of the psychological impact of violence on victims so that advocates and attorneys can better understand how violence impacts victim participation in the criminal justice system. For example, without a grasp of the multi-layered impact of crimes, such as domestic violence, on victims, it is tempting to be critical of victims who are ambivalent about participating in the system, or who refuse to participate all together. Attendees will be given a basic understanding of the brain, the impact of trauma on the brain, and how victim participation in the system can deepen existing trauma. This session is geared toward attorneys, advocates, and criminal justice professionals with basic knowledge of crime victims' rights.

Dr. Christopher Wilson, PsyD is a licensed psychologist in Portland, Oregon who has been involved in the field of domestic violence since 1999. Dr. Wilson provides regular trainings on the dynamics of abuse for both the Portland Women's Crisis Line and the Washington County Domestic Violence Resource Center, works with victims of both domestic violence and other forms of abuse, and conducts domestic violence evaluations. His experience also includes working directly with offenders. Currently, Dr. Wilson runs a part-time private practice and is a contractor for the Oregon Department of Corrections, working in their only co-occurring disorder program for women in the State of Oregon.

This conference is supported by Grant No. 2008-DD-BX-K001 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.