Services
At Sentinel Assessments & Forensic Evaluations (SAFE), we provide specialized expertise designed to help organizations prevent abuse, strengthen institutional safeguards, and respond effectively to complex cases involving exploitation, violence, and victimization. Our work draws on forensic criminology, behavioral analysis, and trauma-informed practices to support institutions entrusted with the protection of vulnerable populations.
SAFE works with childcare providers, nonprofits, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, and legal professionals to identify risk, strengthen prevention systems, and provide expert insight in cases involving sexual abuse, human trafficking, exploitation, and institutional misconduct.
In addition to organizational consulting and expert witness services, SAFE delivers specialized training programs for nonprofit organizations, law enforcement professionals, and community service providers focused on recognizing abuse dynamics, understanding offender behavior, and implementing trauma-informed responses.
We also provide case consultation services, offering behavioral analysis and investigative insight to help professionals better understand complex cases involving victimization, offender patterns, and institutional risk.
Our services are organized around three core pillars:
Training, Consultancy, and Expert Witness Services
each designed to support communities, organizations and professionals working to protect children and vulnerable individuals.
Training
N E W: The SAFE Child - An Institutional Child Protection Model
The SAFE Child is a comprehensive child protection framework developed by Sentinel Assessments & Forensic Evaluations (SAFE) to help organizations prevent sexual and physical abuse within youth-serving environments. Grounded in forensic criminology, behavioral science, and institutional risk management, the SAFE Child model is designed to identify vulnerabilities before harm occurs and implement systems that protect children and strengthen organizational accountability.
Abuse within institutions rarely occurs without warning. Patterns of behavior, environmental gaps, and organizational weaknesses can create opportunities for misconduct long before it is detected. The SAFE Child model addresses these risks by helping organizations recognize early warning signs, strengthen internal safeguards, and build cultures of protection and accountability.
The program integrates staff training, leadership education, institutional risk assessments, and prevention strategies to create safer environments for children and vulnerable individuals. Through evidence-informed practices and practical implementation, organizations are equipped to recognize grooming behaviors, respond appropriately to concerns, and establish systems that make abuse more difficult to occur or remain hidden.
The SAFE Child model is designed for childcare providers, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, youth-serving programs, and other environments where adults are entrusted with the care and supervision of children. Each program can be tailored to meet the operational needs, policies, and regulatory requirements of the organization.
SAFE provides specialized training programs designed to help professionals and organizations recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation, and institutional misconduct. Our training is grounded in forensic criminology, behavioral analysis, and trauma-informed practices, equipping participants with the knowledge needed to identify warning behaviors, understand offender dynamics, and respond appropriately to concerns involving vulnerable populations.
Ultimately, the goal of the SAFE Child model is simple: to help organizations proactively protect children by identifying risk early, strengthening institutional safeguards, and empowering professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to prevent abuse.
SAFE also offers training for law enforcement professionals, early childhood education providers, nonprofit organizations, and community members who play a critical role in protecting children and supporting victims. These programs focus on practical skills such as recognizing grooming behaviors, identifying indicators of abuse, understanding victim disclosure patterns, and implementing effective prevention strategies within institutional settings.
SAFE training programs are fully customizable and can be tailored to meet the specific needs, policies, and operational realities of each organization. Sessions may be delivered in person or remotely, allowing organizations to provide accessible, high-impact education for staff, leadership teams, and community partners.
Our goal is to provide participants with the tools and awareness necessary to strengthen prevention efforts, support victims effectively, and create safer environments for children and vulnerable individuals.
Consultancy
SAFE provides specialized consulting services to support organizations, investigative professionals, and legal teams navigating complex issues involving abuse, exploitation, and institutional risk. Our consulting work draws on forensic criminology, behavioral analysis, and investigative insight to help professionals better understand offender behavior, victimization dynamics, and systemic vulnerabilities.
We work with law enforcement agencies to provide consultation on sexually based crimes, investigative strategies, interview practices, and cold case analysis. This may include behavioral analysis of offenders, case linkage assessments, victimology review, and strategic insight to support investigative direction in complex or unresolved cases.
SAFE also serves as a full-service risk mitigation partner for organizations seeking to strengthen abuse prevention systems. Through institutional risk assessments, policy review, and program development, we help organizations design and implement comprehensive abuse prevention frameworks, including customized training programs and safety protocols that reduce organizational risk while protecting vulnerable populations.
In addition, SAFE provides consultation to attorneys in both civil and criminal matters involving sexual abuse, exploitation, human trafficking, and institutional negligence. Our consultation services support legal teams through case analysis, behavioral insight, and expert guidance to help clarify complex patterns of victimization and offender conduct.
Our consulting services are designed to provide clear, actionable insight that strengthens investigations, supports legal strategy, and helps institutions build safer and more accountable environments.
Expert Witness
SAFE provides expert witness services in cases involving sexual abuse, exploitation, human trafficking, and institutional misconduct. Led by forensic criminologist Dr. Heather Manning, our expert analysis helps courts, attorneys, and investigative professionals understand the behavioral, psychological, and systemic dynamics that often underlie complex cases of victimization.
Dr. Manning offers independent expert consultation and testimony in both civil and criminal proceedings, providing specialized insight into offender behavior, grooming patterns, victim disclosure dynamics, and institutional failures that may contribute to abuse. Her work helps clarify how abuse occurs within interpersonal and organizational contexts, and how victims may respond to trauma and exploitation.
Expert services may include case review, behavioral analysis, expert reports, deposition testimony, and courtroom testimony. SAFE frequently assists legal teams in matters involving child sexual abuse, human trafficking, exploitation, abuse within institutional settings, and cases where understanding offender behavior and victim response is critical to the court’s evaluation.
By combining forensic criminology with extensive research on victimization and abuse dynamics, SAFE provides objective, research-informed expertise that supports the pursuit of justice while helping courts better understand the complexities of abuse and exploitation cases.
Looking for support in a related area not listed above? Please contact Dr. Manning to discuss.