Just Champions, a Podcast by AEquitas
Just Champions, a Podcast by AEquitas
Podcast Description
The crimes of sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual exploitation and human trafficking are uniquely violent crimes in which the victims are often blamed or shamed by the public instead of supported and championed as they should be. Just Champions is a podcast hosted by AEquitas CEO Jennifer Long which focuses on the prosecutors who stand for victims and their communities and are committed to achieving justice and safety on their behalf.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast emphasizes the complexities and unique challenges faced by victims of gender-based violence, with episodes covering topics like the portrayal of victims in media, the role of appellate prosecutors, and the implementation of trauma-informed practices in criminal justice. For example, Season 1 Episode 7 discusses the victim’s experience in the landmark case of Miranda v. Arizona, while Episode 2 explores the influence of toxicology on prosecuting sexual assault cases.
This is the home of podcasts from AEquitas, a nonprofit advancing justice for victims of sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, exploitation, and trafficking. Just Champions, hosted by CEO Jennifer Long, features prosecutors offering insight and strategies for achieving justice in even the most complex cases. The Traffick Report, hosted in Season 1 by Miiko Anderson, analyzes challenges in human trafficking responses and elevates evidence-based strategies through survivors, prosecutors, law enforcement, and their multidisciplinary partners.
AEquitas Senior Attorney Advisor Jon Kurland examines I May Destroy You, Michaela Cole’s unflinching portrayal of alcohol-facilitated sexual assault, involuntary intoxication, and rape. Drawing on Jon’s decades of prosecutorial experience, they break down how the law defines consent and how intoxication—voluntary or involuntary—impacts consent.
They explore the investigative challenges presented by memory gaps, how prosecutors handle cases where the victim may have only partial recall of the assault, how prosecutors work with or prepare to cross-examine toxicologists and other experts, and the importance of explaining victim behavior to fact-finders without reinforcing harmful stereotypes. The conversation also highlights how sexual assault against male victims is minimized or misunderstood, and what prosecutors can do to ensure all victims receive a trauma-informed and just response.
We discuss what I May Destroy You gets right about disclosure, offender behavior, and the communication of consent—and what practitioners can learn from it to strengthen investigations, improve courtroom practice, and advance justice for all sexual violence survivors.
For more information:
- Where to watch the HBO Limited Series I May Destroy You is available here.
- Prosecuting Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault, authored by the late Teresa P. Scalzo, Esq. (1969-2016), was one of the first comprehensive publications to offer strategies in these complex cases; this expert resource remains relevant today.
- Visit AEquitasResource.org to access The ABCs of BAC: Toxicology for Prosecutors and Investigators and the expert publication “Stop it: Now”: Charging Considerations in the Prosecution of Rape Following a Revocation of Consent.
- Senior Attorney Advisor, Jonathan Kurland’s bio can be found here.
This podcast discusses the violent crimes of sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking. If you need support, please call: The National Domestic Violence Hotline, RAINN, and The National Trafficking Hotline
If you’d like more info about AEquitas visit: https://aequitasresource.org/ or email us at: [email protected]. Follow AEquitas on Instagram @aequitas_resource
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