Protocols
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 Justice and Courage Oversight Project
Protocols Committee
October 8, 2003
Minutes
Place: Bay Area Legal Aid, 50 Fell St., San Francisco
In attendance:
Barbara Brooten Job, Justice and Courage Oversight Panel
Donna Medley, Office of Citizen Complaints
Barbara Kempster, Emergency Communications Department
Sharon Woo, District Attorney’s Office
Rosario Navarrette, Department on the Status of Women
Ken Theisen, Bay Area Legal Aid
Susan Fahey, Sheriff’s Department
Insp. Rachel Kilshaw, Police Department
Insp. Joe Mc Fadden, Police Department
Lt. Lou Cassanego, Police Department
Capt. Frank O’Malley, Police Department
Oli Sadler, Telecommunications and Information Services
Sergio Calizo, Adult Probation Department
Mary Twomey, Institute on Aging
Introductions/Roll Call
Co-Chair Barbara Brooten Job called the meeting to order at 1:30p.m.
Approval of Agenda
An agenda item of the role of the Protocols Committee was added to agenda item # 6. The agenda of the October 8, 2003 meeting was approved with the addition.
Review of Minutes
The minutes of the September 10, 2003, meeting was approved.
Select Recorder for Next Meeting
Barbara Kempster (ECD) agreed to serve as the Committee’s recorder at the November meeting.
Review of Police Department Protocols (continued from last month)
Inspector Rachel Kilshaw distributed two handouts:
- DVRU Rebooking Checklist for Domestic Violence, Elder Abuse, and Stalking; and
- DVRU Family Violence Project Referral Form
Inspector Kilshaw continued her discussion of what information goes into a rebooking report. The rebooking report is then brought to the D.A. for review.
The interview of a victim, witness or suspect usually takes about one hour. The focus is to support or eliminate the alibi of a suspect or victim. There is an attempt to interview any children that may have been involved as a witness or otherwise. The training for interview techniques is different than other units however the computer query techniques are the same.
There was a discussion of standardizing the interview questions for all DVRU personnel. Lt. Cassanego felt that it was helpful to use a list of questions as a tool but not as effective to make a policy of a prescribed format of questions that the interviewer must follow.
Questions about how interviews are recorded and the videotaping of interviews with suspects and elder abuse victims were discussed. All interviews except the initial responding officer are audio- taped. A discussion followed concerning when to videotape. The lack of resource to buy videotapes makes it extremely difficult for the Police Department to use videotape as often as they might if they had the supplies. There was also discussion concerning the usefulness of evidence captured on digital vs. Polaroid.
Ms. Navarrette reported that the Mayor’s Office on Criminal Justice (MOCJ), who administers the federal grant that funds the Justice and Courage Project Coordinator position at DOSW, wants to know what resources we need to make the DV system work better. MOCJ wants a report from January 2002 to June 2003 of the needed resources.
Inspector Kilshaw continued to describe the elements of the rebooking report. Each time
contact is made, attempted, or message left for a person who is part of the investigation, it is entered on the chronological report.
Referrals are given to the victim whether the suspect is charged or not. The referrals are made mainly to the Family Violence Project (in the DA’s Office). If the victim comes to the Hall of Justice they will also be taken directly to the Victim Witness Assistance Program and or the Family Violence Project in the DA’s Office.
After the investigation is complete, the DVRU sends a case referral with a copy of the report to the DA. In every case where the DVRU is aware that the suspect or defendant is on probation, the APD is informed of the new case or violation of probation.
Captain O’Malley spoke about plans for additional training for the investigative team responding to the scene. He also announced that the updated referral card that is given to victims of DV is due to be in use soon.
Captain O’Malley reported on the meeting held with Chief Fagan and Deputy Chief Bruce on Monday, October 6, 2003. Belle Taylor-McGhee, Caroline Donnola and Justine McGonagle attended from the Department on the Status of Women. The DVRU is down to 13 inspectors. Chief Bruce is planning to train additional night inspectors for specific response to the scene of a DV incident. The training will be held from 11/17/03 to 11/23/03 and will train 10 inspectors with a plan for more to be trained later on.
The night inspectors will be able to respond to a scene and obtain spontaneous statements, collect evidence etc. The protocol for the inspector’s response to a scene is fluid; a patrol car will always respond. Ms. Navarrette requested a copy of the Police Department’s lethality assessment form.
Discussion followed concerning drafting DVRU Protocol Recommendations. One proposed recommendation was related to asking the investigation unit to notify APD if there has been a probation violation and then having APD initiate the motion to revoke (MTR) in court.
Inspector McFadden, DVRU, stated that it is often unclear if someone is on probation or not. Sharon Woo stated that there needs to be a protocol for the arrest of a person on probation and to make sure that certain protocols are followed. Rachel Kilshaw stated that it would also be good if other units, including Adult Probation, have to check for probation holds and send notification. Sergio Calizo, APD, would like to add misdemeanors.
Other Business
Training issues at ECD should be referred to the Resource Committee.
Mary Twomey discussed ways to measure and evaluate the work of the Committee.
Rosario Navarrette talked about why reports are taken some times and not others. The Police Department Protocol requires the Police to file a report when there is an allegation of violence. Comments on Police protocol: Donna Medley, Office of Citizen Complaints, and others need to know the rules in order to respond properly to complaints. Joe McFadden added that communication intra-department and between departments is crucial.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 12, Bay Area Legal Aid, 50 Fell Street from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The subsequent meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2003.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
