Current Forensic and Related Training Programs

The following is a listing of the most popular courses that Intuition has created to serve our customers needs. We provide a free consultation to all our customers and can design an individually tailored training curriculum for your organization. We will analyze the primary functions of your organization, training objectives, primary background and responsibilities of students, education levels and available time and resources for administration of a training program. From this, each prospective customer will receive a training proposal detailing our suggestions and expected cost.

Computer Investigation
Working with Law Enforcement: Understanding the Investigative Process
You discover a problem within your organization. It may involve a criminal matter and you're required to notify Law Enforcement. This course provides an understanding of the process and procedures that Law Enforcement will follow in conducting the investigation. You'll learn how to deal with differing demands of protection of privacy and the "public information" nature of most Law Enforcement activities. How to insure that your corporate data is protected from release and how to minimize business interruptions. A basic understanding of computer systems and networks is helpful, but not necessary.

Differentiating Between Being a Witness/Complainant and the Investigative Authority: Avoiding Becoming an Agent of the Government
Once you've involved Law Enforcement, it is imperative to avoid becoming a "agent of the government." Law Enforcement or Government actions are governed by Constitutional principles (in particular Search & Seizure and Interrogation procedures), legal precedents, and State and Local ordinances. Many times these impose restrictions on Law Enforcement actions that are not imposed on private individuals. There is sometimes a temptation to use a "private individual," i.e. Company employee, to obtain information in an expedited manner without these restrictions. This course deals with understanding the limitations of Government actions and how to recognize requests by the Government that may cause the company employee to become an "agent of the government", which then imposes the same limitations and may present a risk of liability. No prerequisites.

Forensic Investigative Basics: What to do When Dealing with Computer or Digital Evidence
Every company needs to have a comprehensive Acceptable Use Police which governs the use, release, protection, retention, and disaster recovery for their data and computer systems. This course deals with what do you do when an audit or accidental discovery finds evidence of criminal activity, i.e. child pornography, copyright infringement, unlicensed software. This course deals with the procedures and actions a company needs to take to insure the preservation of the evidence, minimize business interruption, and preventing reoccurrence. Knowing how to preserve and protect the evidence can greatly minimize the interruption of business that involving Law Enforcement inevitably entails. Recognizing the obligation for reporting of criminal activity, the potential liability for failure to report, and dealing with the process are all elements of this course.

Forensic Investigation
An Interrogator's Tips for Optimal, Communicative Relationships (Connecting Through Communication)
This course, led by a forensic interrogator and communication expert, shows you how you can combine psychological principles and forensic communication skills to generate the highest levels of trust, human connection, and intimate disclosure. Understand how body language, communication cues, psychological mindsets, and facilitative environments affect communication. Topics include: designing an environment conducive to open communication; using body language to influence others; pacing the communication of others; using speed, pitch, and tonality advantageously. Discover how to use imagery to enhance communication and how to identify common themes in your discussions with others. Tap into your insights and heighten your awareness of others. Learn how to connect at the highest levels with those around you with the ultimate goal of improving both personal and professional relationships. The tuition includes a materials fee for handouts. 3 hours, no prerequisites. This course is available on DVD (VIEW NOW)

Improving Interview Skills Through Behavior Analysis (Reading People)
This course will introduce participants to the science of human behavior analysis and its relevance to improved communication. Ninety three percent of human communication is nonverbal and success at lie detection and effective interviewing requires an ability to interpret the body language that is being revealed. 3 hours, no prerequisites. This course approved by NASW. This course is available on DVD (VIEW NOW)

Introduction to Investigative Systems
This course will introduce participants to the fundamentals of creating an investigative system. For investigative organizations to perform at high levels they must implement systems that address validity and reliability. New research in the field of forensics has resulted in the ability to create high performance investigative systems that lead the thought and actions of investigators through scientifically advanced investigative procedures. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Behavior Analysis Interview
The average person conducts lie detection with no better than fifty percent accuracy while investigators trained in behavior analysis perform the function at approximately sixty five percent accuracy. The behavior analysis interview is a scientifically validated tool that can produce eighty five percent accuracy at lie detection. This course will cover the fundamentals, question formulation, administration of the interview, analysis and scoring. 3 hours, prerequisite: Improving Interview Skills.

Forensic Interviewing
Forensic research over the past ten years has resulted in the development of laboratory designed and tested interview formats that produce predictable outcomes. This course will introduce participants to the Stepwise, Basic Cognitive, Enhanced Cognitive and Conversation Management interview formats. 3 hours, no prerequisites. This course approved by NASW. This course is available on DVD (VIEW NOW)

Introduction to Forensic Interrogation (Interrogating the Criminal Mind)
Forensic interrogation is a psychological process whereby an investigator activates a compulsion to confess within the psyche of the suspect. This course will introduce participants to the historical search for the essence and trigger of this compulsion and techniques that have been identified to activate it. The Psychoanalytic, Cognitive Behavioral, Reid 9, Interaction Process, and Decision Making models will be covered. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Introduction to Basic Interrogation
The Reid 9 Steps has become the standard format for criminal interrogation around the world. This course will introduce participants to the fundamental aspects of the Reid 9 process and legal and ethical issues that surround its use. 6 hours, prerequisite: Intro to Forensic Interrogation. This course approved by NASW.

Introduction to Advanced Interrogation Concepts
Modern day investigative environments are extremely challenging and require interrogation techniques that can produce diverse products. This course will introduce participants to the latest research in the field of forensic interrogation and techniques that can address the needs of modern day investigative organizations. We will study the Needs Actualization interrogation model and the human development approaches of Robert Kegan. 6 hours, prerequisites: Intro to Forensic Interrogation and Intro to Basic Interrogation. This course approved by NASW.

Interrogation Skills Building
Success in forensic interrogation requires a great deal of skill which is generated by practice in a controlled environment. This course will provide participants with significant role play interrogation activities closely monitored by highly trained forensic interrogators. 18 hours, prerequisites: Intro to Forensic Interrogation, Intro to Basic Interrogation, Intro to Advanced Interrogation.

Psychology of Persuasion
This course is designed to introduce participants to the fundamental psychology that is used by many to persuade individuals into changing their behavior. This course is ideal for social workers and related occupations that come to the aid of families in crisis. 3 hours, no prerequisites. This course approved by NASW. This course is available on DVD (VIEW NOW)

Quality Assurance Within Investigative Systems
This course is designed for supervisors, managers and administrators who will be responsible for the oversight of an investigative system. We will cover the fundamentals of quality assurance, psychological stressors that contaminate investigative systems and how to make immediate and long term measures of validity and reliability. 6 hours, prerequisites: Intro to Investigative Systems, Intro to Forensic Interviewing, The Behavior Analysis Interview, Intro to Forensic Interrogation, Intro to Basic Interrogation.

Forensic Report Writing
Recent forensic research has identified ways in which investigative reports can be created to maximize the psychological impact on consumers. This course will introduce participants to investigative report products that can be produced by forensic investigative systems and how these products can be adjusted to the needs of consumers. Students will learn how to educate readers and lead them to high level intellectual thought rather than traditional "state the facts only" designs. 3 hours, prerequisites: Intro to Investigative Systems, Intro to Forensic Interviewing, Intro to Forensic Interrogation.

Investigative System Skills Building
This course is designed to give participants within an investigative system an opportunity to advance their skills by practicing interaction with the system under the guidance of systems specialists. 3 hours, prerequisites Intro to Investigative Systems, Intro to Forensic Interviewing, Behavior Analysis Interview, Intro to Basic Interrogation.

Forensic Social Work
History of Child Forensic Interviewing
This training is designed as an introduction into the field of child forensic interviewing. Participants will be presented with the historical development of forensic investigation as it relates to children and how the approach differs from clinical interviewing. In addition, the major research and development movements will be discussed. 3 hours, no prerequisites. This course approved by NASW.

The Art and Science of Child Forensic Investigations and Interviewing
This training is designed for those directly involved in investigating and or prosecuting cases of child abuse including sexual abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect and emotional abuse. Child protection investigators, social workers, caseworkers, law enforcement, medical, and legal personnel will learn the history of forensic interviews, the abuse disclosure process, child development and linguistics, questioning typologies, components of the forensic interview, an overview of established models of forensic interviews and the presenters protocol and preferred model of interviewing. This training is interactive in nature utilizing the presenter and participants experiences, select videos, group exercises and demonstrations. Part or all of this training can be presented in 3 hour curricula with the entire training presented in eighteen hours. 18 hours, no prerequisites. This course approved by NASW.

Child Forensic Interviewing Skills Building
This advanced training provides participants with the opportunity to review the model of forensic interview learned in the prerequisite training, the opportunity to view videotaped interviews by the presenter with children* demonstrating the various stages of the forensic interview, and the opportunity for participants to practice learned skills. Participants will receive feedback from the presenter and participants to insure that all participants have ample opportunity to practice and demonstrate their skills. 18 hours, prerequisite: The Art and Science of Child Forensic Investigations and Interviewing.

*Due to confidentiality children are not actual "victims" disclosing abuse.

Understanding Child Sexual Abuse
As professionals we must understand child sexual abuse from the experience and point of view of the child victim. Dynamics of child sexual abuse, signs and symptoms of abuse, effects of the impact of abuse on the child victim, why child victims do or do not disclose sexual abuse and finally, is she/he "making it up" will be presented. An overview of sex offender typologies will be presented. All or part(s) of this curricula can be presented with a minimum of three hours and a maximum of twelve hours. 12 hours, no prerequisite.

Child Abuse and Neglect Reportable Indicators of Abuse
This training is for professionals who need to be aware of and able to recognize reportable indicators of child maltreatment including physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse. Participants are presented with definitions of abuse, indicators of abuse including physical and behavioral, as well as characteristics of abusive caretakers. Mandatory reporting law requirements are reviewed. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Thinking Errors and Cognitive Distortions of Sex Offenders
If professionals are to work with victims of child sexual abuse in overcoming their misdirected sense of shame, guilt, and "compliance" they must look at the sex offender and their cognitive distortions. Through the use of videotaped interviews with incarcerated sex offenders this training distinguishes between child molesters (pedophiles), sadistic, and violent offenders as well as typologies of offending behaviors. Offenders describe their offenses, and in doing so, their patterns of thinking errors and cognitive distortions are identified. 6 hours, no prerequisites.

Cyber Predators – Keeping Children Safe Online
48 million youth ages 15-17 regularly use the Internet. One in thirty three have received and aggressive solicitation to meet their "cyber friend" in person. Adults must empower children to take control of their Internet experience by providing them with vital knowledge that will enable them to act safely and be safe from Internet predators. Do you know how? This prevention oriented training provides participants with critical information you need to know to recognize and respond to dangerous, destructive or illegal online behavior and to take appropriate action in keeping children safe on line. Cyber security, personal safety, predator identification, intellectual property, privacy and cyber relationships will be addressed. 6 hours, no prerequisites.

Responding to Abuse: Maximizing the Abilities of Those with Disabilities
There is a great deal of evidence that suggests that children and adults with disabilities are at greatly increased risk of all forms of abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse. The abuse, committed by family members, caretakers, service delivery professionals and paraprofessionals tends to be more chronic and severe. Wescott (1993) maintains that increased vulnerability toward victimization is often more a factor of society’s response to disability rather than the disability itself. This course will strengthen participants’ abilities to investigate, protect, advocate for, and serve children and adults with disabilities who are victims of abuse. 6 hours, no prerequisites. This course approved by NASW.

Sexual Development and Sexual Abuse of Children and Adolescents
This three hour workshop focuses on the sexual development of children in specific age groups. Normal sexual behavior is distinguished from problematic sexual behavior for each age group, and the disruption of normal psychosexual development when sexual abuse occurs is highlighted. Appropriate interventions in problematic sexual behavior are discussed and practiced. Information is particularly helpful for social workers, school personnel and youth case workers. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Date Rape, Acquaintance Rape and Relationship Violence of Adolescents and Young Adults
This workshop covers the range of sexual aggression from sexual harassment through date rape, and examines the confusions experienced by adolescents as they negotiate the world of sexual relationship building. Guidelines specific to situations that can lead to sexual assault for women, and to charges of sexual assault for young men, are reviewed. Especially helpful for school personnel, social workers and youth group leaders. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Child Abuse and Neglect, An Overview
This program reviews all forms of child abuse and neglect, physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. Definitions are given, physical and behavioral indicators are described, and caretaker characteristics are reviewed. This program is for social workers, therapists, educators and others working closely with children and families who need to be aware of and alert for reportable indicators of abuse. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Children and Domestic Violence
Domestic violence between adults puts children at serious risk of both physical and emotional harm. This workshop explores the devastating effects of domestic violence from the point of view of children who witness and experience the chaos, confusion and fear generated by these situations. Behavioral and emotional dynamics will be reviewed and the short and long term impacts upon children will be discussed. Using audio and visual media, as well as group process and lecture, the workshop will also explore appropriate interventions. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Starting from Scratch: Helping Workers Help Families Re-establish Boundaries Following Sexual Abuse Disclosures
Sexual abuse within a family sends a strong message that boundaries have been broken. Non offending adults in the family may be unable to re-establish or maintain appropriate boundaries without professional help – they may simply never have had the experience of having boundaries set or respected. This workshop will aide the professional who works with the family to look at how boundaries have been violated, and what steps need to be taken to make the family a safe environment for sexually abused children. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Coping with Other People’s Trauma
Secondary trauma is very real and often difficult to manage. Listening and responding to student and client histories of abuse on a daily basis has serious consequences for the caregiver. This workshop will review the phenomena and process of secondary trauma, as distinct from transference and counter-transference, and will cover indicators, coping strategies, and ways designed to assist professionals who often feel saturated and overwhelmed in their roles as helpers. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Schools
Recent research indicates that eighty percent of students experience sexual harassment in school, and that boys as well as girls are being victimized. This workshop will help you look at the connections between harassment and flirting, explore the range of behaviors that constitute harassment and review techniques for intervening in and confronting problematic behaviors. Behavioral means of protecting oneself from charges of sexual harassment will also be covered. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Dissing and Excluding: The Unique Aspects of Girl-on-Girl Bullying and Harassment
The behaviors that constitute bullying and sexual harassment when girls target other girls differ in content and in impact from that of boys. This presentation will call our attention to these all too frequent situations, and will review behaviors, emotional social impacts, and strategies adults working with girls can take to focus on this problem. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Parenting the Sexually Abused Child: Information For Foster and Pre-Adoptive Parents
This workshop covers a range of necessary information for foster and pre-adoptive parents. It includes psycho-sexual development, normal and problematic sexual behaviors of children and adolescents, and steps parents can take to make their homes safer for these youngsters. 2 hours, no prerequisites.

Understanding the Impact of Child Sexual Abuse – Focus on the Victim
Child sexual abuse is known to affect one out of every three or four females and one out of every five or six males prior to their eighteenth birthday. This workshop is intended to give you basic information about child and adolescent victims and the behavioral and emotional impact of their abuse experiences. The continuum of sexual acting out behaviors in children will be reviewed. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Sexual Abuse and Non-Offending Parents – Initial and Long Term Interventions
Non-offending parents experience enormous external pressures and internal fears following the disclosure of child sexual abuse within their families. If these pressures are to be managed, so that parents can support the child victim, professionals must approach the situation with an attitude of understanding as well as firm guidance. We will explore what to expect from non-offending parents, and will review an intervention approach to help increase the parent’s ability to respond appropriately and provide safety for the child. 3 hours, no prerequisites.

Helping Children Tell What Happened, Forensic and Clinical Implications
Investigators, social workers, and clinicians rely heavily on children’s memory to evaluate risk, plan treatment, and determine the validity of reported significant incidents and events. Children’s reports may be accurate, but are often incomplete and insufficient to render decisions and determine a course of action. This course will provide participants with an enhanced cognitive interview model designed to improve memory retrieval in children. Using research, case illustrations, scripted formats and scientifically acceptable, state of the art interview and communication techniques developed in the United States and abroad, this course will provide participants with enhanced skills and abilities to assist children in accurate information recall and retrieval, in order to increase the validity and reliability of their statements. 6 hours, no prerequisites.

When the Victim is a Child: Factors Related to Trauma
In this workshop, issues unique to the victimization of sexually abused children will be reviewed. Emphasis will be placed on the factors present in the victimization experience that are associated with a trauma response in the child. Dynamics such as the victim’s relationship with the offender, the response of those to whom the child discloses, the child’s capacity to see him/herself as “innocent”, and the length of time the child keeps the secret of abuse, will be discussed. These dynamics will be generalized to the wider population of children traumatized by other experiences as well. (PowerPoint program.)

Boundaries in Foster and Adoptive Homes: Creating Safe Space for Everyone
Boundaries are essential to healthy development. In this 2-hour workshop, we will explore some of the ways strong boundaries and clear limits (from confidentiality to safety-focused house rules) can help families create safe space – not just for the victimized children placed in care, but for all family members. (PowerPoint program.)

Intervention: The Next Step in Stopping Bullies, Helping Victims, and Educating Bystanders
In this 3-hour workshop we will briefly review the dynamics of bullying. Our major focus, however, will be on individual, group, and systemic interventions aimed at reducing bullying by creating an atmosphere in which bullying cannot thrive. We will be reviewing the “Stop Bullying Now – Lend a Hand. Take a Stand initiative of the US Department of Health and Human Service’s Health Resources and Services Administration. (PowerPoint program.)

The Truth About Bullying: Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones, But Names Will Hurt Your Heart
What we know about bullies, victims and bystanders, both male and female. What we know about the psychology of the bully, the impact on their targets, and the effect this behavior has on those who witness. In addition, we will discuss the impact of the atmosphere created in a school or community when bullying is allowed to occur without intervention. This PowerPoint presentation can stand on its own or run in conjunction with “Intervention: The Next Step…”

Personal Safety Information for Social Services Staff
Agency personnel working alone or with others inside or outside the office may find themselves in situations that increase their fear and place them or others at risk of some sort of victimization – from theft to assault. Keeping oneself alert and aware at all times while fulfilling necessary job responsibilities requires education and practice. This workshop will explore precautions professionals can use to help reduce the risk of being victimized, and will review suggestions for dealing with inappropriate behavior by clients and others. (PowerPoint or overhead-assisted program.)

Child Sexual Abuse: Understanding the Experience from the Point of View of the Child Victim
This 3, 6, 9, or 12-hour curriculum covers information essential to interacting with child abuse victims. Social caseworkers, therapists, police, child care workers, medical, educational and legal personnel learn abuse dynamics, the psychology of offenders, behavioral and emotional impacts upon victims, treatments of choice, signs and symptoms, and reporting law requirements. (Overhead-assisted program with video.)

Forensics Enrichment Program for Elementary School Children
A program to introduce the exciting world of Forensics to elementary school children. Forensic Experts enrich students school experience by introducing them to an exciting field that demonstrates practical applications of the many subject areas the study. The program includes classroom instruction, practical exercises, case studies and guest speakers.

A number of our courses are approved for continuing education credits by the National Association of Social Workers.