Coordinated Community Programs

1. Coordinated Community Programs

2. Beginning • The question is how do we create a seamless system for the victim? • A local coalition of law enforcement, victim advocates, prosecutors, victim service providers, probation and batterers’ intervention counselors, is a good start. • Ten people at most to start.

3. Law Enforcement • Law enforcement is the gate keeper to the criminal justice system. • To some extent it is the gate keeper to the victim advocacy system and the victim services system. • If law enforcement fails to do it’s job, then the other services may not get to do theirs.

4. Law Enforcement Victim Advocates Victim Services Prosecution Law Enforcement Children’s Services Victim Advocates

5. Problem Solving • As a group determine what problems need to be addressed to better serve your victims. (Not yourself, not your agency, not your agenda.) • Determine how to solve those problems. • Then take action.

6. History’s Lessons • Every group in the process has its own agenda and problems. • When these groups come together each tries to impose its own agenda and solve it’s own problems. Each in the group tries to make the others do it their way. • ( Donna)

7. You must realize that you are here to serve the victim. • You and I both think we know what is best for the victim. That equals conflict.

8. Communication • When the groups meet there are going to be communication barriers.

9. Barriers to Good Communication • We all have a different technical language and may not share like symbols. • Cop speak • Too militaristic for advocates. • Prosecutors, too much legalese. • Advocates think cops don’t care. • Cops think advocates are angry.

10. Ride a long programs

11. Ride along programs • 1. Ride a mile in their shoes…. • 2. See the “real” world” • 3. Learn from cops • 4. Cops learn from your perspective • 5. You’ve got a friend……………

12. What Prosecutors Want From Law Enforcement • Detailed reports, contact numbers. • Photographs, 911 tape, written statements from everyone. • Spontaneous statements. • Weapons (concrete block)

13. What law Enforcement Wants From Prosecutors • If there is a problem with the case call and discuss it, don’t just drop the charges. The officer has much more information about the case. • Try to go forward even if the victim refuses to cooperate.

14. What Victim Advocates want from Law Enforcement • Professionalism, compassion, dedication, patience. • Handle this call with the same dedication you do a bank robbery, or shooting. • Be respectful to your victim. • Explain the process. • Aggressively seek out the suspect.

15. What Victim Service Providers want from Law Enforcement. • Training in what services are available. • Provide the victim with information and choices to insure her safety. • Transport if necessary.

16. What Law Enforcement wants from Victim Advocates • Respond to give support, but don’t interfere. “Support not advocacy.” • Help explain to the victim why prosecution is in their best interest. • Insure their future participation in the process.

17. Possible Tasks for the Group • Help with Protection Orders. • Help with difficult people in the system; Judges, Prosecutors, Officers, any individual or group not responding appropriately.

18. Possible Tasks for the Group • Analyze the entire system. Building locations, room locations, hours of services. • Do victims have to pay for services?

19. Are judges sentencing properly? Judge Taylor • Do you have a Batterer’s Intervention program? Florida de-certified programs in 2015 What does that mean? • Does it work? • How involved is Probation?

20. Injunction Court? • Separate seating for Petitioner and respondent? While waiting? • Judge’s chambers: victim friendly – safe? • Filling out injunction: victim friendly?

21. BROWARD COUNTY JUDGE’S CHAMBERS - 2012 • Ex-Marine Paul Gonzalez ordered to pay child support. • Grabbed ex-wife, Catie • Broke her jaw, nose, black eye, other injuries. • Was Tased twice…. • Sentence: 15 years

22. Tasks • Do you have victim advocates attached to law enforcement? • HCSO : Tampa Four Patrol Districts SAO Advocate assigned to each district

23. Tasks • Are your state laws serving victims properly? • Primary Aggressor, Stalking, Kidnapping, DV Felony. • What is the relationship between law enforcement and the shelter?

24. D V Shelters • Location Confidential to law enforcement ? • Spring of Tampa Bay • Too far away • Work—Schools?

25. Community Responsibility • WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Hanesbrands is ending its advertising campaign featuring Charlie Sheen because of domestic violence charges filed against the actor. • Company spokesman Matt Hall said today that it was a "pretty standard, straightforward call" by the brand marketing team given the nature of the allegations. • The "Two and a Half Men" star was arrested in Aspen, Colo., on Christmas Day on charges including felony menacing and domestic violence. His wife Brooke Sheen told police he put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her.

26. PRO SPORTS TEAMS? • Do they tolerate criminal behavior by atheletes? • Do they cut or trade them? • Do they come out vocally against criminal acts? • Does community apply pressure?

27. Family Justice Center, a one stop process for victims. • Emergency Assistance, Legal Services, Counseling, Translation, Economic, Child Care, Basic Needs, Law Enforcement, Military

28. 22 agencies under one roof to serve victims • Location, Location, Location

29. FAMILY JUSTICE ALLIANCE • Alameda County Family Justice Center, Alameda, California • The Center for Family Justice, Bridgeport, Connecticut • Crystal Judson Family Justice Center, Tacoma, Washington • Essex County Family Justice Center, Essex, New Jersey • Nampa Family Justice Center, Nampa, Idaho • New Orleans Family Justice Center, New Orleans, Louisiana • One Safe Place, Fort Worth, Texas • Sojourner Family Peace Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin • Tulsa Family Safety Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma • Thurston County Family Justice Center, Olympia, WA • Family Justice Center of Boston, Boston, MA • Buncombe County Family Justice Center, Asheville, NC • Family Justice Center Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, CA

30. Ellen Pence on Family Justice Centers • 1:15 to 11:53

31. Domestic Violence Resulting in Death Protocol • Local Law Enforcement Agency • Hillsborough County Victim Assistance Program (HCVAP) and/or • Family Justice Center (FJJ) learns that a child’s parent dies as a result of domestic violence.

32. Domestic Violence Resulting in Death Protocol • Local Law Enforcement, HCVAP, or FJJ notifies Hillsborough County Public Schools, Supervisor of School Social Work Services, about child’s loss. • Supervisor of School Social Work Services notifies School Social Worker of situation via email.

33. Domestic Violence Resulting in Death Protocol • School Social Worker meets with child’s caretaker/guardian to provide support and planning for child’s educational needs. • School Social Worker provides referral(s) to community resources as needed and secures release of information form as appropriate.

34. Domestic Violence Resulting in Death Protocol • School Social Worker provides feedback to school staff as needed and informs Supervisor of School Social Services that follow-up is completed. • Supervisor of School Social Work Services informs Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team of follow-up with child and caretaker/guardian.

35. DISCUSSION