Justice and Courage Committee - June 5, 2020 - Minutes

Meeting Date: 
June 5, 2020 - 9:30am
Location: 

Family Violence Council: Justice and Courage Committee Meeting

June 5, 2020, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Online Meeting

 

  1. Welcome, Introductions/Check-in

 

  1. Bridging Pretrial Communication Gap
    • Bay Area Legal Aid, DA’s office, and Sheriff’s office discussed instances where there was a pre-trial communications gap on someone getting released and the victim not being notified. This happened in one specific recent case.
    • Discussion of how information can be added so that victim is notified. Sheriff’s office says to call and also email the information to make sure deputy is aware. Discussion of training to make sure this issue is resolved.
    • Chief Fisher will share contact information for the Watch Commander to ensure victim notification.

 

  1. Treatment of Charges During Pandemic
    • Bay Area Legal Aid is interested in sending a letter to the Judicial Council, asking them to consider DV or sexual assault charges serious and violent during the pandemic.
    • DA’s office raised the concern that this request would imply treating these charges as ‘strikes’, a significant change in the penal code.
    • Theresa Luong will bring this information to the DVC. This topic will be revisited during the August committee meeting.

 

  1. Arrest of Domestic Violence Survivors
    • Committee questioned whether Sheriff’s office has seen any trends around survivor’s being arrested. Sheriff’s office says they saw more women who do not speak English being arrested at the beginning of the shelter in place, and they immediately flagged that issue.  

 

  1. Electronic Monitoring in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases
    • Electronic monitoring has increased during to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sheriff’s Department reported that the caseload has increased 2-3x times.
    • There was a discussion of what the procedure is for making sure the notification information gets transferred. DA’s Office suggested adding this item to the DV Quarterly meeting with Judge Gordon.  Chief Fisher suggests that Delia may be able to report out on a pilot in August.

 

  1. Update on DGO 6.09/ Domestic Violence Manual and Training Plan for SFPD
    • Commander Vaswani is now the executive sponsor for DGO 6.09. SFPD has convened a working group to finalize the recommendations.

 

  1. Deferred Action on Domestic Violence Cases
    • Due to COVID-19, cases are taking longer to move through the system. For example, jury trials are starting next week, and given precautions it will take longer to pick a jury.

 

  1. Update on Parole Hearing - Claire Joyce Tempongko Domestic Violence Homicide
    • Beverly Upton provided an update to the committee.   

 

  1. Planning agenda for 8/6/2020 meeting
    • All agenda items from this meeting will be reviewed during the next meeting.
    • The committee will schedule a separate meeting with DA Boudin.

 

ACTION ITEMS

Action Item

Person

Deadline

Reported Out

Chief Fisher will provide the committee with contact information for the Watch Commander to ensure victim notification.

Chief Fisher

 

 

Chief Fisher will outline issues or concerns around electronic monitoring for domestic violence cases.

Chief Fisher

 

 

Theresa Luong will raise concern around treatment of DV charges to DVC and raise the idea of a letter to Judicial Council.

Theresa Luong

 

 

Schedule meeting with DA Boudin with J&C committee.

Elise Hansell

 

 

Continue conversation on communications gaps with victim notification, and what training or procedures are needed.

Committee

 

 

Add electronic monitoring and victim notification on agenda for next DV Quarterly Meeting. Elise will ask about the status of the DV Quarterly meeting with Judge Gordon.  

Elise Hansell