Family Liaison Flashcards

1
Q

What is the role of the FLO

A

Day to day management of the partnership between the family of the deceased and the police investigation.

The primary function of an FLO is that of an investigator not a support person.

Facilitate and co-ordinate support that addresses the needs of the family

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2
Q

What 9 things should be considered in an FLO plan

A
  • selection of the FLO and criteria employed for the selection
  • exit plan
  • objectives
  • assessing most appropriate methods of conducting interviews with family
  • information to be released/withheld from the family
  • requests made by the family which have not been agreed to and reasons for it
  • complaints made by the family and OC investigations actions to progress and resolve
  • family member who could be considered a suspect
  • liaison with victim support and other services
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3
Q

What should be considered with an exit plan

A

An exit plan must be developed before the FLO is deployed and communicated to the family at commencement.

Ensure victim support services are ongoing before standing down

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4
Q

The term “family” includes

A
  • parents, partners, siblings, children, guardians, whanau, any other with direct relationship with the victim
  • “chosen” family
  • should reflect the victims culture and lifestyle
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5
Q

Family spokes person

A

Consider asking the family to select a spokesperson to act as the police point of contact

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6
Q

What 3 things must be considered in a risk assessment for deploying an FLO

A
  • suitability of the officer for retention in the role
  • whether additional FLOs should be appointed
  • needs and wishes of the family
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7
Q

What 11 things must be considered in a risk assessment where a family member is suspected of being involved

A
  • FLOs safety and welfare
  • increased monitoring of the FLOs work and family interaction
  • level of information disclosure to the FLO and family
  • process by which intelligences that arises will be managed
  • FLO to be clear in interactions with the family
  • full documentation of all contact and interactions with the family
  • deployment of a more experienced FLO
  • deployment of a deputy FLO for corroboration issues
  • not using FLO in any search or arrest of a family member
  • investigative or evidential impact of deployment
  • whether or not the FLO will reside with the family (eg cases of kidnapping)
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8
Q

Who from victim support can be used in homicide cases

A

Only staff who have undergone training specific to supporting family members of homicide victims

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9
Q

What 7 things must the FLO do before meeting the family

A
  • liaise with OC investigation about parameters and info to be shared with/withheld from family
  • familiarise themselves with the enquiry
  • familiarise themselves with all information established concerning the family
  • familiarise themselves with available information and intel which could impact on the liaison role
  • establish what contact the family has had with police since the incident/death
  • establish what information has been given to the family
  • establish what information concerning the incident is already in the public domain
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10
Q

Who is responsible for profiling the victim and preparing a family tree

A

Family liaison officer

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11
Q

FLO needs to make an assessment to determine interview requirements of family and friends of the victim to enable the investigation team to identify which individuals require interviewing and to assess what 4 things in respect of each witness……

A
  • whether the witness requires special consideration
  • the availability of the witness
  • any particular needs the witness has for assistance
  • optimum approach to be taken when approaching and interviewing the witness
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12
Q

Who is responsible for addressing any fears that family members have in relation to giving evidence and court visit prior to trial

A

Family liaison officer

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13
Q

Where should all contact with the family/NOK etc be recorded

A

In a dedicated notebook. Should be reviewed at regular intervals by OC investigation

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14
Q

What 9 things must the FLO do in the early stages to allow for early resolution of issues

A
  • provide immediate appropriate information to the family about the death and what happens next
  • provide the family/NOK with “when someone dies” book
  • establish from family any immediate evidence, information or rumours they maybe aware of
  • act quickly should family or individual experts concerns for their personal safety or have been subjected to threats
  • facilitate initial practical support for family members
  • protect family from unwarranted media intrusion
  • arrange temporary housing when the family home is the crime scene
  • use victim supports knowledge of the criminal justice system and coroners process to advise family members
  • arrange for crown solicitor to meet the family to explain decisions made
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15
Q

How old is a victim impact statement allowed to be for sentencing

A

No more than 28 days

Homicide trained victim support volunteers are able to assist police by taking the VIS

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16
Q

What financial support is available for victims of homicide

A
  • discretionary grant of up to $1500 for families of homicide
  • free counselling for families of murder/manslaughter victims. 6hrs with option to increase to 15hrs. Maximum of 30hrs may be approved
17
Q

What information should the family be notified of at the start of the investigation and after an arrest is made

A
  • programmes, remédies or services available through police to the family
  • progress of the investigation
  • family’s role as witnesses in the prosecution of the offence
Where offender has been arrested
• inform of victim notification register
• ascertain views the family have on bail
• charges laid
• date and place of court appearances
• any applications made by the accused
• bail conditions
18
Q

Who should make arrangements for viewing and identification of the body

A

FLO or OC body or other person directed by OC investigation

19
Q

What information should be provided to the family before viewing the body

A

As much information as possible about the condition of it.

Post mortem marks on body

20
Q

Who should the FLO liaise with for the release of the body

A

OC investigation and coroners office

21
Q

Should the FLO participate in any suspect identification procedures

A

No

22
Q

As well as completing a victim profile who else should the FLO profile

A
  • each family member
  • friends
  • associates
23
Q

What are the two categories that information falls into when examining the lifestyle of the victim

A
  • People

* Passive Data

24
Q

People sources may include

A
  • friends
  • colleagues
  • partners
  • associates
  • online or social media contacts
  • hobbies and habits
  • travel movements
  • people along the routes they were known to take
  • customers or suppliers
  • religious leaders or associates
  • cultural associations
  • other people they came into contact with
25
Q

Passive data sources my include

A
  • NIA
  • CID
  • medical history
  • mental heath records
  • HSMU
  • landline phone details
  • mobile phone records
  • internet usage
  • vehicle details
  • baking and other financial material
  • diaries, letters and personal documents
  • photos and videos of family/friends
  • passport and immigration data
26
Q

When authorised by OC investigation the FLO should liaise with OC exhibits to return property to the family. In doing so what 4 things should be considered

A
  • what property does the family want returned
  • how they want it returned (do they want it cleaned)
  • are there likely to be any delays in returning it
  • remove all police and court exhibit tags
27
Q

What 8 steps should the FLO take to prepare the family for media attention

A
  • prepare family for the anticipated level of media interest. Provide copy “media information letter to family of the deceased”
  • establish views on any media appeals
  • request family to nominate spokes person
  • consults family before release of personal details relating to victim
  • provide copies of media releases to the family before distribution
  • inform of significant developments in the investigation before release such info to the media
  • appraise OC investigation of media activity around the family
  • request approval from victims family to release a photograph of the victim
28
Q

What things must the family be advised of after a conviction

A
  • victim notification scheme
  • Parole act 2002, process to decide whether an offender is granted parole
  • opportunity to be advised of the offenders release from prison (POL1065)