V-STEP: THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

This is a 2.5 hour training that aims to understand the history and culture of sexual violence and assault.

TITLE: THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

DATE and TIME:

Tuesday December 2, 2025 ~ 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM EST

SUMMARY:

This training takes a fact-based look at patriarchy and its foundational significance in support of sexual violence over the centuries. It will explore how this solidly structured aspect of our society served to victimize women, as well as less powerful men. It places things in context, removes the mask from the offender, and clearly illuminates whom should be held accountable.

OBJECTIVES:

• Discuss and explore historical factors that have provided societal support for sexual assault.
• Illustrate relationships between the social context of sexual assault in relation to prevalence, incidence, and other associated statistics.
• Distill prevalent myths with respect to sexual assault in general, and sexual assault victims and perpetrators in particular.
• Discuss existing offender research, how offenders operate, how offenders choose their victims, characteristics of sex offenders, types of force employed by offenders, and known recidivism of offenders.

PRESENTER: Dave Thomas, Program Manager, International Association of Chiefs of Police

Dave Thomas is an IACP Program Manager primarily focusing on projects pertaining to the National Law Enforcement Leadership Initiative on Violence Against Women (funded by OVW), Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias in Law Enforcement Response to Victims Demonstration Initiative (funded by OVC), Integrity, Action, and Justice: Strengthening Law Enforcement Response to Domestic and Sexual Violence National Demonstration Initiative (funded by OVC), and Law Enforcement and the Communities They Serve: Supporting Collective Healing in the Wake of Harm Demonstration Initiative (funded by OVC) .

Mr. Thomas retired from the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) in December of 2000 on full disability after 15 years of service. He received his bachelors’ degree from Towson University, his masters’ degree from the University of Maryland, and a Certificate in Advanced Trauma Treatment from the Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy Training and Education. During his law enforcement career Mr. Thomas taught at the Police Training Academy, served on the S.W.A.T. team, was a Hostage Negotiator, and a member of the Domestic Violence Unit. In addition to helping create the Domestic Violence Unit, he was responsible for the department’s curriculum development in domestic violence training, as well as the policy development on domestic violence related issues. At the time of his retirement, he was honored to have been the 2nd highest decorated officer in the department’s history receiving numerous awards including the silver medal of valor, the bronze medal of valor, policeman of the year, and the Women’s Alliance of MD Domestic Violence Advocacy Award to name a few. Upon leaving the police department he served as a Senior Advisor to Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention Victim Services Unit as a Domestic Violence Specialist. In January of 2002 he signed on with the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Division of Public Safety Leadership where he served as the Program Administrator for Domestic Violence Education as well as teaching courses related to violence against women crimes in the Divisions Police Executive Leadership Program.

In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Thomas worked with community stakeholders in the spirit of the coordinated community response to deliver training and technical assistance on issues pertaining to violence against women and violence against women crimes. These services were provided at the local, state, and national levels. Mr. Thomas has taught in the US Virgin Islands, and internationally in the Ukraine and Bulgaria. Mr. Thomas received the 21st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award from JHU in January 2004, was honored at the White House as a 2012 Champion of Change, and appointed by the White House to serve as a Public Delegate to the 2013 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women meetings held in New York City. Just prior to joining the staff of the IACP, Mr. Thomas served as the Senior Advisor, Highly Qualified Expert Law Enforcement, SES, to the U.S. Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office out of the Pentagon. Mr. Thomas continues to challenge himself in his quest to achieve excellence in the field and considers addressing violence against women his calling in life.

TRAINING CONTACTS: Anne Milun, VASIII, Program Manager, 410-837-5055, alitecky@ubalt.edu; Cherie Peay, Program Coordinator at 443-600-1621, cpeay@ubalt.edu; and Nicole Feldhaus, Technician, 410-274-4655, nfeldhauslitecky@ubalt.edu

Certificate of Training, Social Work CEUs and Academic Credits:

RVAAM selected curriculum has been approved for specific professions (e.g. social work, law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole) Upon completion of an online evaluation form, participants are welcome to request a Certificate of Training; Social Work Category I Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and/or academic credits. All participants are eligible to receive a Certificate of Training (1 credit per training hour).

2025 ROPER VICTIM ASSISTANCE ACADMEY OF MARYLAND

Victim Services Training Enhancement Program (V-STEP)…Bringing Crime Victim Training and Certification to Maryland Communities.

Victim Services Advanced Trainings (V-STEP) are held virtually and in 5 regional locations across Maryland. Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland (RVAAM) provides basic training twice a year (40 hour curriculum). For more information, please contact Anne Milun, V-STEP Program Manager for information or to schedule a training for your agency or organization.