MCADSV is dedicated to the empowerment of all the state's survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Our mission is to develop and promote efforts aimed at the elimination of all domestic and sexual violence in Michigan.
Road Blocks and Detours
Facing Formerly-Incarcerated Survivors: Women Charged with and/or Convicted of a Criminal Offense
This is an experimental training activity that assists participants in understanding the many barriers that domestic and sexual violence survivors encounter when they become involved in the criminal legal system. The scenarios use in Road Blocks and Detours are reflective of the many stories survivors have shared with programs and coalitions staff over the course of many years. These stories illustrate the complexity of the many obstacles they encounter in attempting to be free from violence while still complying with the various requirements of the criminal legal system.

This exercise is designed to allow participants to experience the issues, emotions, fears, and hurdles that incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated trauma survivors face each day. Participants play the role of a survivor and learn about the different issues facing women as they return to their friends, family, criminal legal system, supportive services and the community at large.

Women who are returning to the community following a period of incarceration commonly face uncertainty about where they can live, how they will support themselves, whether or not they will reconnect with family, and how they will manage their health. Survivors need your respectful inquiry, active listening, and a commitment or willingness to support their healing process and re-entry into a community or new home.

To learn more about this project or to schedule training for your staff, please contact us at (517) 347-7000.
Advocating for Women with Abusive Partners Who Are Facing Criminal Charges
This resource will assist DV/SA program advocates and executive leadership staff to critically problem solve through barriers and hardships which survivors, who are facing criminal charges, experience in the various stages of the process. The chart includes advocacy tips for the DV worker and recommendations for executive leadership during the various stages of a criminal case, including appeal, commutation, clemency, and parole and probation. The brochure includes advocacy tips for both domestic violence workers and also executive leadership of DV leaders.

Click here to access the chart.
Open Doors
Best Practice Toolkit for Working with Domestic Violence Survivors with Criminal Histories (2011)

Free to download

The MCADSV Open Doors Project is a national demonstration project that aims to identify and address the many barriers that incarcerated and formerly incarcerated domestic and sexual assault survivors face in obtaining advocacy and support from domestic violence and sexual assault programs. An important capacity-building goal of the Open Doors Project is to enhance the community collaboration between DV/SA advocates, community service providers and those working in the criminal justice and corrections systems.  The goal of these collaborations is to facilitate a shared objective of keeping women safe and out of jails and prisons.

Open Doors Toolkit - Complete Document (1,545kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Title Page (52kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Dedication (53kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - About the Authors (53kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Preface (151kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Table of Contents (49kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Section 1 - Introduction (241kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Section 2 - Overview of the Criminal Legal System (514kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Section 3 - How Domestic Violence May Impact Women Before, During and Beyond Incarceration (233kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Section 4 - Advocating for Domestic Violence Survivors Across the Different Stages of the Criminal Legal System (204kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Section 5 - What Criminal Legal Professionals Need to Know About Working with Domestic Violence Survivors (126kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Section 6 - Women's Needs After Incarceration: Understanding and Effectively Addressing System-Level Barriers (206kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Section 7 - Working Together: Practical Guidance to Enhance Collaboration Between the Criminal Legal and Domestic Violence Sectors (90kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - Section 8 - Helping Women Stay Free and Safe: Additional Information and Resources (796kb)

Open Doors Toolkit - References - (101kb)

Please note: some of the links referenced in the text may no longer be working links.  The hyperlinks were last accessed in December 2011.  We apologize for any inconvenience and encourage you to contact the primary source listed.

All of these products were produced by MCADSV. The project was funded in part by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families, Financial Assistance Award, Family Violence Prevention and Services Program, Award # 90EV0394101 awarded to Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors’ and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the DHHS or the U.S. Government. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It’s distributed with the understanding that the publisher isn’t engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

MCADSV wishes to thank and honor the contributions of both our state and national reviewers, who so generously gave of their time and expertise to provide comment and feedback on the toolkit.