Trauma-Informed Communication for Prosecutors

Presented by Cordelia Coppleson\, Director of Training\, Cook County State'\;s Attorney'\;s Office

📅 Date: August 13\, 2026 🕑 Time: 2:00 PM ET 💲 Cost: Free for APA members | $50 for non-members

A trauma-informed approach to victim communication is essential to understanding the complex ways individuals respond to violent crime and traumatic experiences. This presentation explores the biology and neuropsychology of trauma\, including how the brain processes fear\, stress\, and survival during traumatic events.

Participants will examine common trauma responses and indicators\, including shame\, self-blame\, fear\, dissociation\, self-harm\, and self-medication through drugs or alcohol. The training will also address how trauma affects memory formation and recall\, including fragmented or non-linear memories that can create challenges for investigators and prosecutors who are unfamiliar with trauma-informed practices.

📋 Topics will include:

Fight\, flight\, freeze\, and fawn responses
The impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Trauma and memory fragmentation
Victim behavior misconceptions
Effective trauma-informed interviewing techniques
Non-linear interviewing strategies
Best practices for communicating with victims and survivors of violent crime

The program emphasizes practical tools prosecutors can immediately apply to improve victim communication\, strengthen investigations\, and better support survivors while maintaining the integrity of the investigative and prosecutorial process.

🎓 CLE / Credit Information

This activity has been approved for 1.0 hour of General California MCLE credit on a presumptive basis. Certificates of completion will also be provided for attendees seeking continuing education or self-study/self-reporting credit in other jurisdictions\, subject to applicable requirements.

Unsure if your jurisdiction accepts self-reporting? View this resource to check.

This self-reporting resource is provided for informational purposes only. Attendees are responsible for verifying MCLE credit eligibility and reporting requirements with their respective state bar.

👥 Who Should Attend

Prosecutors and allied professionals such as investigators and victim advocates.

🎤 About the Presenter

Cordelia Coppleson is a career prosecutor and attorney with 30 years of experience in criminal litigation\, law enforcement training\, and prosecutor professional development. She currently serves as Director of Training for the Cook County State'\;s Attorney'\;s Office\, overseeing training and professional education for more than 1\,300 prosecutors and staff. Previously\, as Bureau Chief of Law Enforcement Training with the Illinois Attorney General'\;s Office\, she trained thousands of law enforcement officers and prosecutors statewide on trauma-informed investigations and prosecution\, the neurobiology of trauma\, sexual assault investigations\, and victim-centered communication. She is a frequent presenter at national\, state\, and local conferences and has served on several statewide commissions and task forces.