Family Liaison Flashcards
Role of the Family Liaison Officer:
Day to day management of the partnership between the family of the deceased and the Police investigation
Primary function of the FLO
Primary function is that of an investigator and not a support person. However, in performing this role FLO must offer, facilitate and co-ordinate support
What should the Family Liaison plan consider?
- Selection of the FLO
- Exit plan for FLO
- Objectives of FLO
- Information to be withheld or released to family
- Requests made by the family
What must be done before a FLO is deployed?
- An exit plan
- A risk assessment
The O/C investigation must continually review the appointment of the FLO and consider:
- the suitability
- whether additional FLOs should be appointed
- the needs and wishes of the family
What should the O/C investigation consider when a family member is a suspect:
- The FLOs welfare and safety
- Level of information disclosed
- Fully documenting contact
- Not using FLO in any search or arrest
What should the FLO do before meeting the family:
- Liaise with O/C investigation
- Familiarise themselves with the enquiry
- Familiarise themselves with all information
- Establish what contact family has had with Police
- Establish what information has been given to the family
What must the FLO do during the early stages of the investigation:
- Provide immediate appropriate information
- Provide “when someone dies” booklet
- Establishing any immediate evidence
- Give or facilitate support
- Arrange temporary housing if needed
What financial support may be given to families:
- A discretionary grant of up to $1500
- Free counselling of up to 15 or 30 hours
What information should the family be notified of during an investigation?
- Programmes, remedies or services available
- Progress of the investigation
- The family’s role as witnesses
Where an offender is arrested, the FLO must:
- Inform them of their right to register on the victim notification register
- Ascertain the family views on bail
- Inform the family of charges laid, date and place of court appearance, release on bail, bail conditions
When examining the lifestyle of a victim, what are some sources of ‘people’ information?
- Friends
- Colleagues
- Partners
- Associates
- Travel movements
When examining the lifestyle of a victim, what are some sources of ‘passive data’ information?
- NIA
- Medical history
- Mental health records
- HSMU
- Phone records
- Banking records
What issues should be considered when returning property:
- Does the family want it?
- How do they want it returned?
- Are there likely to be delays?
- Property should be inspected to ensure all exhibit tags have been removed
How to prepare the family for possible media interest:
- Provide a copy of “Media information letter”
- Request a family spokesperson
- Consult family before the release of personal details
- Provide copies of media releases
