PROSECUTION

1. PROSECUTION

2. Keep In Mind A good investigation is the key to a successful prosecution!

3. There is no “I” in TEAM TEAMWORK ISSUES • “Victimless prosecution” is the goal • Good working relationship with law enforcement • “Top-Down” change • Good social service agency cooperation to helpunderstand the limitations of our evidence or victims

4. Prosecution’s Role with Law Enforcement • Thorough investigation/complete police reports = easier prosecution • Appreciate officer’s “window of opportunity” with the victim, suspect and others at the scene • Multiple (Stacking) charges assist with prosecution • Call officer to testify at trial • Thorough victim contact from officers is a necessity

5. Domestic Battery720 ILCS 5/12-3.2 Domestic Battery is a Class A Misdemeanor if it is committed intentionally or knowingly without legal justification by any means and: • Causes bodily harm to any family or household members as defined in Subsection (3) of section 112A-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, as amended; • Makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with any family or household members as defined in Subsection (3) of Section 112-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, as amended.

6. Domestic Battery is a Class 4 Felonyif the defendant has any prior conviction under this Code for aggravated battery*, domestic battery, unlawful violation of an order of protection, stalking, aggravated stalking, unlawful restraint, or aggravated unlawful restraint when committed against a family or household member 720 ILCS 5/12-3.2 (b)

7. Violation of an Order of Protection720 ILCS 5/12-30 Violation of an Order of Protection is a Class A Misdemeanor a person commits violation of an order of protection if: • He/she commits an act which was prohibited by a court or fails to commit an act which was ordered by a court in violation of a remedy in a valid order of protection authorized under paragraphs 1, 2, 4, 14, or 14.5 (ii) a remedy, which is substantially similar to the remedies authorized under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 14, or 14.5 • Such violation occurs after the offender has been served notice of the contents of the order.

8. A Violation of an Order of Protection is a Class 4 Felony if the defendant has any prior conviction for aggravated battery*, domestic battery, unlawful violation of an order of protection, stalking, aggravated stalking, unlawful restraint, or aggravated unlawful restraint when committed against a family or household member. 720 ILCS 5/12-30 (d)

9. Domestic Violence Dynamics Four Stages Battered Women Go Through: Denial – victim does not admit there is problem and excuses the violent behavior. Guilt – victim begins to acknowledge there’s a problem but believes she’s responsible. Enlightenment – victim realizes no one deserves to be hurt but it still committed to the relationship. Acceptance – victim accepts that batterer will not change and leaves the relationship.

10. Domestic Violence Dynamics Phase 1: Tension Building Phase - Victim tries to keep the peace and cover up abuser’s behavior. Abusive behavior begins to escalate and tension builds. Phase 2:Battering Incident - Violent incident happens. Victim may dissociate to get through incident. Almost always happens in private. Phase 3: Honeymoon Phase - Abuser promises to change and never hurt victim again. Abuser is loving and kind.

11. Domestic Violence Dynamics To get the Victim to stay, the Batterer promises: • to go to counseling • to stop drinking or doing drugs • to become involved in the church • that the abuse will never happen again

12. Full Faith and Credit Orders of Protection and Civil No Contact Orders should be enforced in all jurisdictions no matter where the original order was issued.

13. Other Statutes • 720 ILCS 5/12-3.3 Aggravated Domestic Battery • 720 ILCS 5/12-7.3 Stalking • 720 ILCS 5/12-7.4 Aggravated Stalking • 720 ILCS 5/32-10 (b) Violation of Bail Bond (72 hour no contact) • 720 ILCS 5/32-10 (c) Violation of Bail Bond • 720 ILCS 5/10-3 Unlawful Restraint

14. Other Statutes • 720 ILCS 5/12-1 Assault • 720 ILCS 5/12-4 Aggravated Battery • 720 ILCS 5/12-11 Home Invasion • 720 ILCS 5/12-5 Reckless Conduct • 720 ILCS 5/21-3 Criminal Trespass to Real Property • 720 ILCS 5/21-1 Criminal Damage to Property

15. Offense, Statute & Applicable Penalty Chart

16. Applicable Penalty and Sentence Chart

17. Bail Bond (1) 72-Hour No Contact Conditions of Bond – DV Specific • In place for any defendant who has been charged with criminal offense in which the victim was a family or household member as defined by the IDVA. • The defendant must “refrain” from contact or communications with the victim, and “refrain” from entering or remaining at the victim’s residence. • 72-hours begin when defendant is released from custody. • I prefer a “no contact until further order of court” to attempt to prevent the inevitable pressures on victim to dismiss case.

18. Bail Bond (2) Special No Contact Condition of Bond – Not DV Specific • A Judge orders a special condition that the defendant have no contact with a specific person, place, groups of people, etc. as a condition of bond. • If the victim is a family or household member a Violation of Bail Bond (VOBB) charge could be filed by the SA. Class A Misdemeanor. • If the victim is not a family or household member a State’s Attorney has several options (depending on the violation) such as immediately asking for bond to be increased, or asking for the matter to be set for hearing before the judge re-assesses the bond. 720 ILCS 5/32-10 725 ILCS 5/110-6

19. Bail Bond Assessments Judges MUST consider the following when setting bond (Effective 2007) • History of violence, domestic violence, court order violations • Access to weapons or history of using weapons • History of drug and/or alcohol abuse, mental health issues • Offender and victim have currently separated • Offender stalked, surveilled, or isolated the victim • Offender has expressed suicidal or homicidal ideations

20. New Bischoff Bail Statute (1) Effective January 1, 2009 Requires the court to order a risk assessment on any defendant charged with VOOP • Some courts requiring this in 48 hour window before a bond is set • Other courts requiring the assessment to be done as a condition of bond • One of the reasons we need the information requested in the previous slide (history of violence, death threats, etc.)

21. New Bischoff Bail Statute (2) • Based on information gathered in the risk assessment, the Court can order the defendant to wear a GPS device as a condition of bond. • Also can order the GPS device as a condition of any probation that may be granted. • Good Communication between Social services agencies and Law Enforcement is a MUST.

22. Developing Evidence • Demonstrative • Corroborative • Competency • Hearsay Judge Paul Tressler

23. Demonstrative Evidence • Physical Evidence (photos, x-rays, etc.) • Diagrams & photos of the crime scene • Calendars, letters, gifts • Computer data • Other evidence Judge Paul Tressler

24. Corroborative Evidence • DNA evidence – the Holy Grail of evidence • Other types of medical evidence • E.R. Doc’s not the best in SA cases • Need expert with a “scope” in SA • Expert testimony • Suspect statements • Medical evidence • Hearsay statements • One party consent recordings • Search warrants in extreme cases Judge Paul Tressler

25. Suspect Statements Always promote the investigative agency to get the suspect’s statement (even if it is just verbal) and note everything they say WHY? 1. So they or their defense attorney can’t think of a better lie later. 2. Guidance as to what the defense strategy will be.

26. Medical Evidence • Testimony of wounds, abrasions, or other injuries - Seriousness of the injury - Subpoena hospital/ambulance/ records/x-rays • Expert Opinions - Injuries consistent with abuse - Absence of injuries, incl. private parts (certainly in child victims) - SIDS, shaken baby Judge Paul Tressler

27. Expert Testimony • Someone with special skill, knowledge, experience or education who is permitted to render an opinion based upon that specialized knowledge, etc. • Testimony must be understandable to the trier of fact. Judge Paul Tressler

28. Hearsay Hearsay is an out of court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. The general rule is that hearsay is INADMISSIBLE. There are exceptions…………

29. Common Law Exceptions • Admission/Confession • Spontaneous Statements • Excited Utterances • Present-sense Impression • Statement for Medical Diagnosis • Statement as to Physical Condition • Statement as to Mental Condition

30. Excited Utterances (1) Theory: Statements made while the person is “excited” (while “under the stress of excitement caused by the event”) are less likely to be fabricated, and thus admissible as a hearsay exception. • Note the victim’s emotional state. These statements can only come in IF they were made while the victim was still caught up in the moment. Statement is likely to be admissible if the witness can be described as excited, hysterical, very upset, sobbing, etc.

31. Excited Utterances (2) • Usually statement must be made right after the incident (ex. 911 call), but sometimes admitted even hours later – may be defined by statute. • Write in quotation marks to indicate they are the victim’s exact words. • Generally, the Judge is more likely to admit the statement if the officer uses the declarant’s exact words in the report. • Note if an interpreter was used.

32. Present-sense Impressions Statements made while a person is perceiving an event or condition, or immediately thereafter Neighbor calling 911 while a domestic violence incident is occurring, and describing the event Victim describing current/ongoing situation or condition

33. Statements for Medical Diagnosis Statements made to medics. Statements made at the emergency room/hospital. If statements happen to be made in front of a witness (like a law enforcement officer), the witness can testify as to the statements.

34. Statements as to Physical Condition If the victim says to the officer, “My stomach hurts so much where he kicked me!” and the officer includes this statement in the report, it should be admissible at trial because it describes the victim’s physical condition at the time of the assault.

35. Statements as to Mental Condition If the victim says to the officer, “I’m so terrified of him that I can’t breathe right,” and the officer includes this statement in the report, it should be admissible at trial because it describes the victim’s mental condition at the time of the assault.

36. Training Exercise Handling the Call: Domestic Violence Vignettes Scene 15 “My Crazy Wife Stabbed Me!”

37. Legislative Exceptions (1) • Child testimony in sex abuse/assault or even battery cases • Covered by 725 ILCS 5/115-10 • ONLY children UNDER age of 13 at time of offense (see statute for applicable rules) • Pretrial hearing • Preferably your trial judge b/c court’s ruling may change if victim has problems • Child’s hearsay statements admissible if judge finds that “time, content, and circumstances” of statement make it reliable • Victim should NOT be called at hearing

38. Legislative Exceptions (2) Any corroborative evidence you have should be put on at this hearing • Medical from doctor or hospital staff • Police testimony on statements from defendant, even “half admissions” • Unique fact patterns that led to statement itself, e.g. came out at bath time, after good/bad touch talk • Confrontation clause issues • Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004) • Davis v. Washington, 547 U. S. 813 (2006) • Not an issue as long as the child is “available for cross examination” – what does that mean? • Testimonial v. non-testimonial hearsay

39. Types of Trials • Bench trial/Adjudicatory Hearing (juvenile) - the trier of fact is a judge. • Judges are human, each has their own idiosyncrasies. Know what those are, and be aware when presenting the information in your case. • Jury trial – the trier of fact is a panel of a specific number (usually twelve) private citizens.

40. What is a Jury Trial? • A battle to control the minds of twelve people • It is conducted under established rules of evidence • This is done in a civilized, but adversarial posture • Jurors expect the prosecutor to be prepared Judge Paul Tressler

41. Jurors • Preconceived Ideas • Impact of the media, esp. pop culture • Lack of medical or scientific evidence • Children or young witnesses not believable • Bias or Prejudice (anti-police, etc) • Even small matters, like DUI’s • Divergence of life experiences and abilities • Inexperience as jurors • Inexperienced jurors look for any problem with a story for reasonable doubt • Experienced jurors try to figure out who is truthful Judge Paul Tressler

42. Jury Selection (1) • We aren’t looking for fair and impartial – we want jurors that are most likely to be sympathetic to our theory of the case. • Small jurisdictions - Have jurors rated by law enforcement officers and others likely to know most or all of the persons on the jury panel - Run criminal history and driving record checks Victor Vieth, Investigating and Prosecuting Cases of Child Abuse

43. Jury Selection (2) 1. Consider a jury questionnaire or individual voir dire for sensitive topics pertaining to abuse or you are unlikely to get honest answers. 2. Educate the jury in voir dire, but be careful of indoctrination *REMEMBER – you are always being watched by potential jurors. You must show your commitment to justice and professionalism at all times! Victor Vieth, Investigating and Prosecuting Cases of Child Abuse

44. Keys to a Successful Prosecution • Anticipate defenses • Accurate, reviewed reports • Prepared witnesses • Understandable experts Judge Paul Tressler

45. Accurate, Reviewed Reports • Primarily with police officers - Do tell them • In cases with minor victims, remind officer to refresh on DOB’s • Various schools of thoughts on witnesses reading or watching their previous statements -Especially with witnesses over the age of 13 or so, will serve the purpose of having the witness better recall what she told police, and even facts -Danger in opening us up to allegations of coaching the witness what to say, esp. w/ young

46. Witness Preparation • The more times you practice, specially with kids, the greater possibility you will suck all emotion out of the testimony at trial • Emotion is good. Jurors expect to see it. They will watch victim intently.

47. Expert Witnesses • In small counties, use local experts • In a tough case, especially for hard-to-explain behavior, it may be necessary to get a conviction • An expert can help with: • Lack of medical or scientific evidence • Why victim recanted • Why victim delayed reporting • Why victim never left, or continued to trust • Why victims allow abuse to go on for years, even when they know it’s “wrong”

48. Preparing a Witness to Testify (1) • Familiarize with the courtroom • Layout – who sits where • Deputies there w/guns to protect you • Position yourself to get witness to look at jury (and not at the defendant) • Procedures • Oath • People (attorney’s, bailiff’s, court security, etc.) • Witness do’s and don’ts list – type out • Motions in limine granted • Defendant’s prior bad acts, criminal history

49. Preparing a Witness to Testify (2) • Unless they are necessary for safety of victim, not a big fan of family in courtroom w/victim – distracts witness from her job • Modify the courtroom if needed • Consider scheduling issues w/witness • If a sympathetic judge, try to get him to allow you to call victim first thing in morning

50. Training Exercise Handling the Call: Domestic Violence Vignettes Scene 15 “My Crazy Wife Stabbed Me!”