Episode 216 | Just Best Practices in Maintaining Conviction Integrity
Original Release Date: July 29, 2022
In episode four of our Enhancing Conviction Integrity through Forensics mini-season, Just Science sat down with Patti Powers and John Wilkinson, two Attorney Advisors with AEquitas, to discuss the application of best practices in maintaining the integrity of a conviction.
Attorneys hold the responsibility of seeking justice for victims and their families and, therefore, must treat each case with an incredible level of care and discipline. The critical role of attorneys to drive a case forward reflects deeply on the need for maintaining victim care while holding offenders accountable. Listen along as Patti Powers and John Wilkinson dive deep into the ways practitioners can seek training opportunities, rethink positive case outcomes, and implement key strategies and policies to enhance their response to violent crimes.
This project was supported by Grant No. 2019-MU-BX-K011 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Guest Biographies
Patti Powers joined AEquitas after serving as a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Washington State for 27 years bringing extensive litigation expertise as a well-respected trial attorney. She supervised the Sexual Assault—Domestic Violence Unit and prosecuted and tried a high volume of violent crimes—specializing in adult sexual assault, child sexual assault and abuse, sexual exploitation of minors, domestic violence, and related homicides (including complex litigation of high-profile, as well as cold and current cases). Patti served on the domestic violence and child fatality review committees and was a member of the Washington State Technical Assistance Committee for Child Death Review Guidelines. For five years, she was appointed as a Highly Qualified Expert for the United States Army, Criminal Investigation Division; in this role, she provided training for army criminal investigation agents and prosecutors at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and in Germany. Patti is the lead Attorney Advisor on the SAKI project.
John F. Wilkinson, an Attorney Advisor with AEquitas, presents on trial strategy, legal analysis and policy, and ethical issues related to violence against women at the local, state, national and international level. He conducts research; develops training materials, resources, and publications; and provides case consultation and technical assistance for prosecutors and allied professionals. John served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Fredericksburg, VA prosecuting cases involving intimate partner violence and sexual assault, including cases of campus sexual assaults and domestic violence homicide. He also served on the Fredericksburg Area Sexual Assault Response Team and prosecuted child sexual and physical abuse and neglect cases and infant homicides.
