Free Training Opportunities

Comprehensive Sexual Assault Investigations is a 16-hour course, co-instructed by a prosecutor, law enforcement officer, and victim advocate. The material and exercises are designed for officers who have already participated in the Investigating Non-Stranger Sexual Assault class. Through a combination of lecture, demonstration and scenario-based exercises participants will learn: the benefits of conducting trauma-informed interviews; how to conduct a trauma-informed interview of a victim; how to develop and refine a plan for thorough investigation of non-stranger SA cases; the concept of micro-corroboration and how it enhances successful prosecution; how to conduct a pretext phone call or pretext electronic communications; how to plan for and conduct an effective suspect interview and interrogation; and how to write meaningful reports that enhance the likelihood of successful prosecution. MCOLES sponsored and credit recorded in MITN. Limited to 30 participants per class.

Objectives:

• Develop and refine a comprehensive plan for an investigation.
• Demonstrate the use of trauma-informed interviewing questions when interviewing victims and other witnesses.
• Identify evidence that is micro-corroborative and describe how micro-corroboration enhances successful prosecution.
• Plan for a pre-text communication as part of an investigation.
• Plan for an effective suspect interview.
• Identify reasons for delayed disclosure and ways of addressing it in an investigation.
• Identify ways of writing an effective report

2025 COURSE OFFERINGS

• May 13 & 14, 2025 at Eastern Michigan University | REGISTER HERE

The Instructor Development Course is a 24-hour course, which introduces new and seasoned MCOLES instructors to their critical and challenging role within respective organizations by highlighting the key knowledge and abilities required for satisfactory performance. The goal of this course is for the target audience to demonstrate the skills required for preparing and delivering effective instruction, as well as coaching and evaluating adult learners.

Objectives:

• Prepare to conduct instructor-led training in accordance with the Instructor Performance Evaluation Checklist Guide.
• Deliver a 20-minute instructor-led training on a pre-approved topic in accordance with the Instructor Performance Evaluation Checklist Guide. 
• Coach other instructors in accordance with the Instructor Performance Evaluation Checklist Guide. 
• Evaluate student performance in accordance with the Instructor Performance Evaluation Checklist Guide. 

2025 COURSE OFFERINGS

• April 23 - 25, 2025, at Livingston County Sheriff's Office | REGISTER HERE
• May 5 - 7, 2025, at Canton Police Department | REGISTER HERE
• May 28 - 30, 2025, at Schoolcraft Community College | REGISTER HERE

Investigating Non-Stranger Sexual Assault is an 8-hour course, co-instructed by a law enforcement officer and a victim advocate. This 8-hour course covers the dynamics of sexual assault and victim response, including neurobiology of trauma, will be presented, along with the important information about offender behavior. Officers will learn specific techniques for interviewing the victim, suspect, and witnesses along with on-scene management, evidence collection, and subsequent in-depth investigation practices. Also contains information on handling sexual assault kits. MCOLES sponsored and class credit recorded in MITN. Limited to 24 participants per class.

Objectives:

• Officers must recognize and explore the impact their bias may have on the interplay of their work with those that are reporting and/or being investigated.
• Understand victim rights as well as their duties involving sexual assault evidence kits.
• Learn how trauma affects victims’ memory and how understanding trauma may help explain victim behavior.
• Officers understand how trauma affects the brain.
• Officers can increase their effectiveness in learning trauma informed interview techniques to better understand the victim’s experience.

2025 COURSE OFFERINGS

• June 5, 2025, at Traverse City Police Department | REGISTER HERE
• June 17, 2025, at Schoolcraft Community College | REGISTER HERE

Investigating Non-Fatal Strangulation/Suffocation Cases is a 4-hour course, co-instructed by a prosecutor, law enforcement officer, and medical personnel (S.A.N.E.). An in-depth course on the recognition, investigation, and prosecution of the often-missed non-fatal strangulation/suffocation instances at domestic violence scenes. Provides officers the medical information and terminology to write reports to enhance successful prosecution. MCOLES sponsored and credit recorded in MITN. Limited to 30 participants per class.

Objectives:

• Officers know the laws regarding strangulation/suffocation.
• Understand the relationship between strangulation/suffocation and cases of domestic violence.
• Understand the medical and mechanical facts regarding strangulation/suffocation.
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of strangulation/suffocation.
• Utilize the correct terminology while report writing strangulation/suffocation cases.

2025 COURSE OFFERINGS

• April 23, 2025, at Gun Lake Tribe Public Safety Department | REGISTER HERE

Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence is an 8-hour course, co-instructed by a prosecutor, law enforcement officer and victim advocate. This course is designed to enhance on-scene investigations and increase successful prosecution. Focus on investigations being victim-centered and offender focused. Includes nationally recognized best practices and all applicable legal updates. MCOLES sponsored and class credit recorded in MITN. Limited to 24 participants per class.

Objectives:

• Understanding the nature and prevalence of domestic violence.
• Communicating with victims, witnesses, and suspects by accurately interpreting behaviors and reactions.
• Understanding the laws regarding domestic violence related crimes.
• Conducting victim-centered, offender focused investigations.
• Understanding how culture can affect the nature of the investigation.

2025 COURSE OFFERINGS

• April 17, 2025, at Bad Axe Police Department | REGISTER HERE
• May 8, 2025, at Oakland Police Academy | REGISTER HERE

Law Enforcement Response to Stalking/PPO/Bond Violations is a 4-hour course, co-instructed by a prosecutor, law enforcement officer, and a victim advocate. An in-depth course on the crime of stalking with the added layer of personal protection orders and bond violations. When and where to arrest and what to charge. MCOLES sponsored and credit recorded in MITN. Limited to 30 participants per class.

Objectives:

• Recognize stalking behavior in perpetrators.
• Understand and apply the law as regarding stalking.
• Learn of resources available to victims of stalking.
• Recognize a valid personal protection order.
• Know when custodial arrest is legal and appropriate.
• Learn of resources available to victims of PPO violations.

2025 COURSE OFFERINGS

• April 3, 2025, at Muskegon Fire Department | REGISTER HERE
• May 20, 2025, at Delta College | REGISTER HERE