300 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY Flashcards
310.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
COURT ORDER:
- All forms of orders related to domestic violence
- that have been issued by a court of this state or another,
- whether civil or criminal, regardless of whether service has been made.
310.2 POLICY
The Berkeley Police Department’s response to incidents of domestic violence and violations of related court orders shall stress enforcement of the law to protect the victim and shall communicate the philosophy that domestic violence is criminal behavior.
It is also the policy of this department to:
- facilitate victims’ and offenders’ access to appropriate civil remedies and community resources whenever feasible.
- In order to break the cycle of violence, the department policy is pro-arrest and focuses on proving the case with or without the victim’s cooperation whenever possible.
310.3 OFFICER SAFETY
TRUE OR FALSE
The investigation of domestic violence cases often places officers in emotionally charged and sometimes highly dangerous environments. No provision of this policy is intended to supersede the responsibility of all officers to exercise due caution and reasonable care in providing for the safety of any officers and parties involved.
TRUE
310.4 DV INVESTIGATIONS:
True or false
Calls of reported, threatened, imminent, or ongoing domestic violence and the violation of any court order are of extreme importance and should be considered among the highest response priorities. This includes incomplete 9-1-1 calls.
TRUE
310.4 DV INVESTIGATIONS:
Who should officers contact during DV investigations?
When practicable, officers should obtain and document statements from:
- the victim,
- the suspect
- any witnesses
- including children, in or around the household or location of occurrence.
310.4 DV INVESTIGATIONS:
When contacting children at the scene of DV investigation, officers should do the following:
- Officers should list the full name and date of birth (and school if available) of each child who was present in the household at the time of the offense.
310.4 DV INVESTIGATIONS:
True or false
When investigating DV, officer shall always record via audio or body camera:
FALSE
When practicable and legally permitted, video or audio record all significant statements and observations.
310.4 DV INVESTIGATIONS:
During DV investigations, Officer should adhere to the following protocols regarding photographs:
-All injuries should be photographed
regardless of severity
- take care to preserve the victim’s personal privacy
- Where practicable, photographs should be taken by a person of the same sex.
- Victims whose injuries are not visible at the time of the incident should be asked to contact the Detective Bureau in the event that the injuries later become visible.
310.4 DV INVESTIGATIONS:
What are the basic things an officer should do during a DV investigation in relation to suspect?
- If the suspect is no longer at the scene, officers should make reasonable efforts to locate the suspect
- to further the investigation, provide the suspect with an opportunity to make a statement, and make an arrest or seek an arrest warrant if appropriate.
310.4 DV investigations
True or false
Officers can get verbal consent for authorization for medical release from victim
FALSE
- Officers should obtain a signed authorization of medical release from victim
310.4 DV INVESTIGATIONS
When investigating DV, officers should do the following with weapons:
- Seize any firearms or other dangerous weapons in the home, if appropriate and legally permitted, for safekeeping or as evidence.
- If the domestic violence involved threats of bodily harm, any firearm discovered in plain view or pursuant to consent or other lawful search must be taken into temporary custody (Penal Code § 18250).
310.4 DV INVESTIGATIONS
When completing an arrest report or incident report for restraining order violations officers should include the following:
- include specific information that establishes that the offender has been served
- include the date the offender was served
- the name of the agency that served the order
- and the provision of the order that the subject is alleged to have violated.
- When reasonably available, the arresting officer should attach a copy of the order to the incident or arrest report.
310.4 DV INVESTIGATIONS
Officers should take appropriate enforcement action when there is probable cause to believe an offense has occurred.
Factors that SHOULD NOT BE used as sole justification for declining to take enforcement action include:
- Whether the suspect lives on the premises with the victim.
- Claims by the suspect that the victim provoked or perpetuated the violence.
- The potential financial or child custody consequences of arrest.
- The physical or emotional state of either party.
- Use of drugs or alcohol by either party.
- Denial that the abuse occurred where evidence indicates otherwise.
- A request by the victim not to arrest the suspect.
Location of the incident (public/private). - Speculation that the complainant may not follow through with the prosecution.
- Actual or perceived characteristics such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, economic status, age, cultural group, disability, or marital status of the victim or suspect.
- The social status, community status, or professional position of the victim or suspect.
310.4.1 IF A DV SUSPECT IS ARRESTED
If a suspect is arrested, officers should:
- Advise the victim that there is no guarantee the suspect will remain in custody.
- Provide the victim’s contact information to the jail staff to enable notification of the victim upon the suspect’s release from jail.
- Advise the victim whether any type of court order will be in effect when the suspect is released from jail.
310.4.2 IF NO ARREST IS MADE with DV
If no arrest is made, the officer should:
- Advise the parties of any options, including but not limited to:
1- Voluntary separation of the parties.
2- Appropriate resource referrals (e.g.,counselors, friends, relatives, shelter homes, victim witness unit).
3- Document the resolution in a report.