CJ Scarlet Speakers Page

Criminal Justice Expert & Victim Advocate

Specialized Topics: Dark Side of the Rainbow: Violence Against Members of the LGBTQ Community From a Child’s Perspective: Supporting Victims of Child Abuse The Predatory Mind: How Abusers Think, Act, and Groom Their Victims Taking Our Power Back: How Survivors Can Claim Their Power to End and Heal from Violent Relationships Poly-victimization: Why Does This Keep Happening to Me? Lost in the Maze: How to Navigate the Criminal Justice Process Moving Beyond #MeToo: What Happens Next?

CJ Scarlet knows first-hand how violence can destroy lives. A survivor of childhood and teenage sexual assaults, CJ spent years dealing with the emotional aftermath of her experience. After taking her power back, she became an advocate for others who had been victimized, running a child advocacy center and serving as Director of Victims Issues for the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

While with the AG’s Office, CJ initiated and co-chaired the implementation of the nation’s first statewide automated victim notification system, selected as the national model, which notifies victims before their perpetrators are to be released from custody. This program won several awards and is still in place two decades later. An expert in victims’ rights and advocacy, CJ has given speeches and workshops at national and international events; and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including MSNBC and NPR. She is the author of The Badass Girl’s Guide: Uncommon Strategies to Outwit Predators and Neptune’s Gift: Discovering Your Inner Ocean. The former U.S. Marine photojournalist and forest firefighter hold a B.A. in Political Science from Virginia Wesleyan College and an interdisciplinary master’s degree in Humanities with an emphasis on Human Violence and a graduate certificate in Women’s Studies from Old Dominion University. Named one of the “Happy 100” people on the planet, CJ’s story is featured in two bestselling books, including Happy for No Reason and Be Invincible.CJ Scarlet is a dynamic speaker on the topics of violence against members of the LGBTQ community, self-empowerment for abuse survivors, and self-defense. Her presentations are ideal for adults and young people over the age of 12, LGBTQ and minority individuals (who are at greatest risk of being assaulted), spouse programs, and groups that serve these audiences.