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May 15, 2013

Animal Cruelty Prosecutor and Judicial Training

For prosecuting attorneys, judges, and law enforcement

Prosecuting or adjudicating animal cruelty cases can present unique challenges and implications.

For example, understanding how animal cruelty can relate to other issues like domestic violence of juvenile crime may help protect human as well as animal victims.

A former prosecutor in the Monmouth County, N.J., District Attorney's office, Sherry Ramsey, Esq. has successfully prosecuted and advised hundreds of animal cruelty and neglect cases involving pets, wildlife, and farm animals.

As The HSUS's director of animal cruelty prosecutions, Sherry conducts training seminars on prosecuting and adjudicating animal cruelty cases. Geared toward law enforcement personnel, prosecuting attorneys, and judges, the presentations draw from Sherry's experience to help participants learn the skills essential to prosecuting and adjudicating animal abuse cases.

Law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges (and others as indicated below) are invited to join Sherry at these upcoming conferences. Email Sherry for more information.

Past Animal Cruelty Prosecution Seminars

April 30, 2013: Washington, D.C.—U.S. Department of Justice panel on animal cruelty

April 13, 2013: Daleville, Va.—A Guide to Virginia's Animal Welfare Laws

March 5 & 6, 2013: Tallahassee—Third Annual Animal Investigation & Prosecution Seminar Series [PDF]

October 2012: Los Angeles—Association of Prosecuting Attorneys' Third National Animal Prosecution Conference: Prosecuting Animal Cruelty and Preserving Community Safety

September 2012: Baltimore—Animal cruelty proscecution training for law enforcement and prosecutors, sponsored by the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office

June 2012:  Newark—Animal cruelty and animal-fighting seminar presented (alongside forensic veterinarian Dr. Dana Miller and USDA-OIG-Investigations Special Agent in Charge Beth Dinkins) to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Newark division

May 2012: New York City—Animal Cruelty and the Use of Veterinary Forensics presented by the New York City Bar Association

April 2012: Indianapolis—Continuing Legal Education on Animal law presented by the Indiana State Bar Association and The Animal Law Society

February 2012: Philadelpia—Continuing Legal Education course for prosecutors regarding animal-cruelty case prosecutions, offered by the Philadelphia District Attorney's office

October 2011: Virginia Beach—Training for animal control officers on investigating animal cruelty cases, sponsored by the Virginia Animal Control Association

September 2011: Louisville, Ky.—Training for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors on investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty cases in Kentucky, sponsored by The HSUS

August 2011: Saint Paul, Minn.—2011 Criminal Justice Institute, sponsored by Minnesota Continuing Legal Education

July 2011: New York City—National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 74th Annual Conference

May 2011: Atlantic City, N.J.—"Domestic Violence and Animal Cruelty: Important Considerations," part of the New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting

April 2011: Baltimore, Md.—"Conversations for Change: Improving Civic Society for Animals," sponsored by the Maryland Bar Association

February 2011: Florida—"Investigating and Prosecuting Animal Cruelty Cases," attended by over 120 prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and animal control officers and organized by Asst. State Attorney Adrienne Emerson and Alaqua Animal Refuge founder Laurie Hood.  

October 2010: Colorado—Three-day prosecutor training seminar sponsored by, and in cooperation with, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA)

July 2010: Salem, Ore.—Prosecutor training sponsored by the Oregon Department of Justice on the Connections and Concerns With Domestic Violence and Animal Cruelty

May 2010: New Jersey—Prosecutor training at the New Jersey State Bar Association's Annual Meeting

April 2010: Rockland County, N.Y.—Prosecutor training at the Rockland County, NY District Attorney's Office

March 2010: Las Vegas, Nev.—National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Annual Meeting: A seminar on the Connection Between Domestic Violence and Animal Cruelty and a seminar on the Important Considerations on Juvenile Crime and Animal Cruelty  

February & September 2010: Charlottesville, Va.—JAG attorney training for the Army JAG School: an explanation of the new proposed provision for animal cruelty in the Uniform Code of Military Justice and ways to charge animal cruelty crimes under the Code 

September 2009: Washington, D.C.—The Association of Prosecuting Attorneys' first-ever conference on Prosecuting Animal Cruelty and Fighting Cases, held at George Washington University Law School and sponsored by the Animal Welfare Institute