Southwest Crimes Against Children Conference coming to Santa Ana Star Casino

SANTA ANA PUEBLO — The Second Annual Southwest Crimes Against Children Conference will be held at Santa Ana Star Casino and Hotel from Oct. 15-17.

Due to the success of the conference last year, it has expanded from two to three days.

“We’d all come together, we’d share our best practices, and we bring in experts from out of state, we bring in experts from around the state ... hopefully go back to our jobs and be better at what we do,” said Jessica Martinez, chief deputy district attorney.

The keynote speaker for the conference will be Eliza Sultan, who is a legislation advocate, mom, constituent advocate in a U.S. Congressional Office, and the author of “Children on the Frontlines of Justice,” which tells the story of two young children who bravely testify against a family member at his criminal trial.

“She’s decided that she wants to continue helping from her experience, and she wrote a book that is for children to read when they have to go through the experience and so that they can kind of know what to expect. We are really excited to have her come and share her experience,” Martinez said.

The conference will bring together representatives from law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, child and victim advocates, social workers, and members of the court to collaborate and share knowledge.

Attendants will receive training in new aspects of the law, be introduced to new investigative techniques, protocols, prosecution approaches and judicial handling of child abuse and neglect cases.

The conference will also include hands-on workshops, case studies, panel discussion round tables on cultural competence and differences, and sessions focused on improving understanding and awareness in the handling of criminal child abuse cases.

“Another thing that we concentrate on is secondary trauma,” Martinez said. “That’s one thing that people don’t realize is what workers in this field really go through. So, we also have classes on how to deal with that.”

Admission to the Southwest Crimes Against Children Conference is free and open to all.

Check in and day-of registration for the Southwest Crimes Against Children Conference is 4-7 p.m. Oct. 14.