file management for homicide and serious crime investigations

Question 1

what is considered when establishing the requirements for the investigation headquarters

Answer 1

• location
• office support staff
• transport
• equipment
• communications
• ICT requirements

Question 2

communication flow

Answer 2

the file manager must assist the 2IC to prepare daily bulletin/sitreps, police and special notices organisational charts and daily rosters and ensuring these are well displayed within the investigation headquarters, preferably on a notice board

Question 3

what are the initial actions of a disclosure manager

Answer 3

on appointment the disclosure manager must:

• read the disclosure managers desk file
• access the current serious crime template downloaded to the local district shared drive, for use during the investigation
• report to the 2IC to receive a briefing, tasking, establishing what information is and is not discoverable and ongoing supervision

Question 4

what are the key responsibilities of the disclosure manager

Answer 4

• ensure all relevant discoverable material is disclosed to defence counsel
• ensure all relevant non discoverable material is identified, listed and defence advised
• continually assess the risk to ensure that non discoverable material is identified and not disclosed
• continually review to ensure that lawful justification to withhold exists for each document that is withheld
• ensure that robust auditable systems are employed to record disclosure decisions and actions
• manage disclosure timeframes within the provisions of the act or as otherwise directed by the courts

Question 5

obligations when counsel is assigned

Answer 5

• to ensure the replacement counsel is provided with all material previously disclosed. this may be achieved by obtaining confirmation in writing from the replacement counsel that they have received all material previously disclosed from the outgoing counsel, or by providing the replacement counsel with a fresh copy

Question 6

crown disclosure

Answer 6

the crown should be provided with an identical copy of all material that is disclosed to defence counsel. the crown should also review an un edited copy of the material where appropriate. this material should remain under the control of the file manager while it is being reviewed