In the midst of a national conversation on sexual harassment and assault sparked by #MeToo and the me too movement, one form of sexual violence remains shrouded in silence: when police officers and other law enforcement agents are the perpetrators. Although studies show that sexual violence is the second most frequently reported form of police misconduct after excessive force, it is not the second most frequently talked about, despite the fact that an officer is caught in the act every 5 days. Perhaps most alarmingly, evidence suggests that law enforcement officers frequently prey on survivors of sexual, domestic, and community violence.

This two-day virtual workshop will explore the following questions: What does sexual violence by police look like? Who do officers target? Most importantly, how can we put a stop to this systemic problem? How can sexual assault and anti-criminalization advocates join forces to create a comprehensive approach to this problem which places survivors at the center?

About the Speaker: Andrea J. Ritchie is a Black lesbian immigrant police misconduct attorney and organizer whose writing, litigation, and advocacy has focused on policing and criminalization of women and LGBT people of color for the past two decades. She is currently Researcher in Residence on Race, Gender, Sexuality and Criminalization at the Barnard Center for Research on Women, where she recently launched the Interrupting Criminalization: Research in Action initiative.

For more information, visit www.andreajritchie.com

Technology/Logistics: This event will be held on April 15 and 16, 2021, 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM ET. This event will be held via Zoom Meetings. Video participation is not required. The session will be recorded and distributed to those who register. The session will be conducted in spoken English. Language interpretation can be made available upon request.