Tuesday’s post on Doe v. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University walked through what happens when an institution investigates itself amid structural pressures that make an objective result difficult to achieve. That case raises a question every youth-serving organization and its counsel eventually face: when allegations of misconduct arise, do you investigate internally, or do you bring…
Commissioning an independent investigation is a difficult decision for a youth organization, and it is only the beginning of the process. What happens after the report lands on your desk — how you read it, who sees it, what you do with it, and how you support everyone affected — will define whether your organization…
You hired an independent investigator to find the truth. But knowing what “the truth” requires — and what a thorough search for it actually looks like — is your responsibility. Here’s how to hold your investigators accountable for the work that protects your youth. When an allegation surfaces in a youth-serving organization, most administrators do…
One particularly When your organization engages independent investigators following allegations of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct, you’re entering territory that requires both compassion and unflinching objectivity. Understanding how these values work together—rather than against each other—is essential to ensuring that the investigations you commission both protect vulnerable people and seek truth. Let’s walk through how…
One type of independent investigation that many organizations now have to face are allegations of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct, whether recent or long-ago. Entering this territory requires both compassion and unflinching objectivity. Understanding how these values work together—rather than against each other—is essential to ensuring that the investigations you commission both protect vulnerable people…
The call comes during afternoon carpool pickup. A parent mentions—almost casually at first—that their daughter said something concerning about a counselor. Or you’re reviewing incident reports and notice a pattern you can’t ignore. Or an email lands in your inbox with “Urgent: Formal Complaint” in the subject line. Your stomach drops. Your mind races. And…
When the Investigation Ends: How to Use the Results to Protect, Heal, and Strengthen Your Organization A practical guide for administrators of youth-serving organizations navigating the critical steps after an independent investigation concludes. Commissioning an independent investigation is one of the most difficult decisions a leader of a youth-serving organization will ever make. It requires…