Assistant Attorney General Texas Office of the Attorney General
In 2024, the Office of the Texas Attorney General secured life sentences against Shawn Dwayne Allen for trafficking and sexual assault of a child. The prosecution was beset by problem - multiple trial resets, a defense attorney medical retirement, and a traumatized victim who was often difficult to find. We will discuss the multiagency effort, led by the Office of the Attorney General, to eventually got the victim into the courtroom to testify against her biological father.
Learning Objectives:
Develop strategies for securing the appearance of a reluctant or traumatized victim.
Discuss the impact of victim centered prosecution.
Demonstrate the importance of and strategies for cooperation between prosecutors and victim support specialists.
