Domestic Violence

The terminology used in Domestic Violence cases can be very specific.

Law Enforcement Officers are the main experts called to testify in cases of Domestic Violence. They are usually asked about their training, the crime scene, about the demeanor of the parties, about determining who the predominant or primary aggressor is, about statements made, among many other things. Criminalists are called to testify about the evidence collected at the scene, such as fingerprints, DNA evidence, and drugs. Emergency Medical Technicians, Forensic Nurses, and other medical practitioners will be called to testify to the different type of injuries sand determined if these are defensive or inflicted wounds. Forensic Psychologists or Psychiatrists, Social Workers, Trauma Experts, and Victim Advocates, are also important witness regarding dynamics of Domestic Violence, victim behavior, trauma, among other things.

We try to make learning terminology as hands-on and fun as possible, by offering, instead of lectures, many opportunities to practice interpretation skills and memorize, by using the terms in different contexts. We use videos, audio tracks, clips of podcasts, and audiobooks, to practice advanced simultaneous interpretation, as well as texts, illustrations, and puzzles.

This course includes a Strangulation/Suffocation Worksheet used by law enforcement, to practice Sight Translation. It also includes the testimony of a law enforcement officer and the testimony of a forensic psychologist in a current high-profile case, testifying for the defense on Battered Women Syndrome.