Sandra Tullius, Board Member

Sandra retired from her position as a Special Victim Litigation Expert in the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency in December 2021, having spent the years from 2009 until her retirement as a civilian expert providing direct advice, training, and assistance to Army JAG Corps prosecutors around the world in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving special victims, including: sexual assault; interpersonal violence; child abuse; and homicide. Sandra was involved as a key member of the prosecution team in nearly every complex or high-profile courts-martial in the U.S. Army, including soldiers accused and convicted of multiple murders of fellow soldiers and civilians during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom while deployed or in the US. Sandra deployed as a civilian to Afghanistan to support one of the most tragic criminal atrocities committed by a soldier during OEF. Sandra was also the Army’s foremost expert in cases involving child homicide, egregious child abuse and child exploitation, supporting over 30 homicide courts-martials. Sandra was appointed as a Special Assistant US Attorney for the United States District Court of New Jersey to assist in the prosecution of co-accused civilian and military defendants in a multiple victim child physical abuse case from Picatinny Arsenal, NJ.

In addition, Sandra assisted on countless adult sexual violence and interpersonal violence cases. In total, Sandra provided direct support in the courtroom for over 175 Army courts-martial and provided remote assistance in over 350 more. Her expertise includes forensic medical investigations, abusive head trauma, victim interviews, coordinated criminal investigations, mental health issues of both victims and accused, rape shield and privacy laws and rules, use of expert witnesses and consultants, and victim behavior. Sandra has mentored, trained, developed and led 121 Special Victim Prosecutors having served with the SVP program from its inception.

Sandra developed and implemented many training courses for the Army JAG Corps and has trained prosecutors, defense counsel and many other support personnel on the UCMJ, trial advocacy skills, and all aspects of cases involving special victims. She has also trained nationally and internationally on a variety of topics.

Sandra was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 2019 and was honored with the awarding of the Superior Civilian Service Medal in 2021 upon her retirement. Sandra was also named to her High School Hall of Fame in 2009 for her work on behalf of children.

Prior to her years with the U.S. Army JAG Corps, Sandra was a prosecuting attorney for the State of Connecticut from 1990 to July of 2009. She began her career in the Tolland County State’s Attorney’s Office where she began her work with child abuse issues and other special victim cases. During this time, she developed a multi-disciplinary team to address issues of child abuse in the jurisdiction. Sandra then moved to the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office where she was the lead prosecutor of a statewide Statutory Rape Unit and as the sole attorney she prosecuted cases around the state, as well as training law enforcement, rape crisis workers, DCF, and medical professionals on aspects of sexual assault and victim dynamics. Sandra then moved to the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office from 1999-2009 where she prosecuted major felony cases, including capital felonies, homicide, sexual assault, child fatalities, child sexual and physical abuse, child exploitation, and other crimes. She continued to train prosecutors, law enforcement, DCF and medical personnel at the local and national level during her tenure as a prosecutor, in addition to being adjunct faculty at Eastern Connecticut State University from 1990-1999.

Sandra earned her JD from Western New England University School of Law in 1988. She was a member of the ATLA Moot Court Trial Team and a National Finalist in 1988. Sandra earned an MS in Exercise and Sport Science from Smith College in 1984 and a BS in Education from SUNY College at Cortland in 1979.

Sandra serves on the Development and Litigation Committees of the Board.