Family Liaison in Homicide and Serious Crime Investigations Flashcards
Role of the Family Liaison Officer (FLO)
- The day-to-day management of the partnership between the family of the deceased and the Police investigation
- Must also offer, facilitate and coordinate support that addresses the needs of the family
Of note:
- The primary function of an FLO is that of an investigator and not a support person.
Family Liaison Plan - Staff
- Selection of the FLO and criteria employed for the selection
- Exit plan for the FLO
- Objectives of the family liaison
Family Liaison Plan - Information
- Information to be released to and withheld from, the family
- Assessing the most appropriate methods of conducting interviews with family members
Family Liaison Plan - Liaison
- Victim support liaison
- Requests/complaints made by family
The term ‘family’ includes:
- Partners, parents, siblings, children, guardians, whänau and any others who have had a direct and close relationship with the victim
- Includes ‘chosen’ family
- Should reflect the victim’s culture and lifestyle.
WIC-F
Suspect within the family
The OC Investigation must review the plan regularly, which should consider:
- Welfare and safety
- Investigative or evidential impact of deployment
- Clear interactions with the family
- FLO not used in any search or arrest of a family member
Action on appointment
Before meeting the family, the FLO must familiarise themselves with -
- The inquiry
- All information established concerning the family
- Available information and intelligence which could impact on the liaison role
Action on appointment
Before meeting the family, the FLO must establish what -
- Contact the family has had with Police since the incident/death
- Information has been given to the family
- Information concerning the incident is already in the public domain.
PPEP
Early issues for resolution - during the early stages the FLO must:
- Provide information concerning the death of the victim
- Provide the booklet ‘When someone dies’
- Establish any immediate info/evidence from the family that can be passed to the O/C Investigation
- Protect the family from media intrusion.
Victim impact statements
Of note only
The statement must be available for sentencing and should be no older than 28 days at the time of sentencing.
Homicide trained Victim Support volunteers are trained to assist Police by taking Victim Impact Statements from surviving family members.
Financial support
Of note only
Through Victim Support, the Government provides financial assistance on behalf of the Crown Solicitor for victims of serious crime towards the costs of dealing with the incident and attending court and other criminal justice processes. This includes:
- a discretionary grant of up to $1500 for families of homicide victims
- free counselling for families of murder and manslaughter victims. Initially six hours are approved with the option to increase to 15 hours. Counselling up to a maximum of 30 hours may be approved if required.
Disclosure of information to the family
Throughout investigation, the family should be notified of:
- S11 - Programmes, remedies, or services available through Police to the family as victims in their own right
- S12 - Progress of the investigation
- Family’s role as witnesses in the prosecution of the offence
Disclosure of information to the family
Where an offender is arrested, the FLO (in consultation with O/C Investigation) must inform the family of:
(BACH BAND-V)
- The offender’s release on BAil and what those conditions of bail are
- CHarges
- Views on BAil
- Views on Name suppression
- Court Date and location
- Inform family about VNR
Sources of information - People
(FACTS-PHP)
- Friends
- Associates
- Colleagues
- Travel
- Social media
- Partners
- Hobbies
- People along the routes they were known to take
Sources of information - Passive
- NIA
- Medical history
- Mental health records
- HSMU
- Telco
- Banking
- Documents
- Photographs
