Scenario


Tony is a victim advocate in state court. He has been preparing Mei to testify against her ex-husband, who has physically assaulted her several times since their divorce. Two weeks before trial, Mei tells Tony she no longer wants to testify. She’s concerned her children will not have enough money to get by if their father goes to jail. She’s worried her ex-husband’s friends will retaliate against her. She’s afraid people in her neighborhood will be angry at her for involving police in family problems. Tony has an idea of what to do, but decides to ask his coworkers, Nina and Lou, for advice.


* Tony thinks connecting Mei with housing and food programs will reduce her money worries. He hopes financial security will lead her to testify.

* Nina knows victims in domestic violence cases often change their stories. She wants to get Mei to provide a sworn statement about the attacks on video now. That way if Mei changes her story later, the prosecutor can challenge her with the original version.

* Lou wants to have Mei subpoenaed and forced to testify. If she will not cooperate, police can arrest her. Arrest would mean losing custody of her kids. Lou thinks Mei’s love for her children will lead her to testify.

What do you think is the best approach, and why? You can choose one of the three approaches here, or a mixture of them, or even come up with your own approach. Just be sure to explain your reasoning as you make a decision. There isn't a right answer, so take your time and be thoughtful, then respond to other people's posts in a similar fashion.