Bellingham-Whatcom Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit

Findings and Recommendations for Prosecution and Probation Responses

Safety Audit Coordinator: Sue Parrott, Director, Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence

This audit explored the question: How do prosecution and probation recognize and respond to the complexities of risk and safety for all victims of domestic violence in the City of Bellingham Whatcom Three agencies offered their policies, practices, and case files for review during this audit, as well as contributed members to an audit team: the Bellingham City Prosecutor's Office, the Whatcom County Prosecutor's Office and the Whatcom County District Court Probation. The team's findings are based on information gathered during two community focus groups of battered women and their advocates, 35 individual interviews with a relevant practitioners, 40 observations of court and probations activities, and text analysis of case files from the City and Attorney's offices and District Court Probation.

View Article » Bellingham_Whatcom_Audit_Report.pdf

Case Processing of Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases, Year 1

Initial Police Response to Arraignment

Sharonna Lee, Kristine Lizdas, J.D., Connie Sponsler; Editor: Denise Gamache, BWJP

BWJP decided to focus its initial examination on two specific interactions, based on the chronology of case processing and in response to concerns raised by the Family Violence Coordinating Council. BWJP audited the initial police response to domestic violence calls, and the post-arrest process of releasing defendants from custody up to the arraignment. This report addresses law enforcement, bail evaluation and pre-trial release.

View Article » Case_Processing_of_Misdemeanor_DV_Cases.pdf
View Article » Case_Processing_of_Misdemeanor_DV_Cases_Appendix.pdf
View Article » Case_Processing_of_Misdemeanor_DV_Cases_Progress_Report_on_Implementation.pdf

Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audits

For information and contacts on conducting a Safety Audit in your community, visit Praxis International's website.

View Website » http://www.praxisinternational.org/

El Paso County, Colorado Institutional Safety and Accountability Audit Report

A Project of the El Paso County Greenbook Project

Contributors: Audit Team Members (see Acknowledgements);Audit Coordinator Lisa Tessarowicz; Project Director Amber Ptak, and BWJP Consultant Rhonda Martinson

A multi-disciplinary team in El Paso County, Colorado mapped their domestic violence prosecution system, conducted focus groups of battered women, interviewed numerous practitioners, observed domestic violence court appearances and reviewed prosecution files to determine what information/factors influence prosecutorial decision-making and case disposition in misdemeanor domestic violence cases, as they related to adult/child victim safety and offender accountability. Four themes in victim safety and offender accountability were discovered; These themes and recommendations to address them are set forth in this report.

View Article » ElPaso_County_Audit_Report.pdf
View Article » ElPaso_DataChart1.pdf
View Article » ElPaso_DataChart2.pdf

La Crosse County Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit

Phase 2: Post-Arrest through Prosecution, Findings and Recommendations

Produced by the La Crosse County Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit Team. Primary Contributors: Safety Audit Coordinator Dar Jaeger and Safety Audit Consultant Jane Sadusky

The La Crosse County Safety Audit - Phase 2 explored the following question: How do post-arrest and prosecution responses to domestic violence cases in La Crosse County enhance or diminish victim safety and batterer accountability? The constant focal point of any Safety Audit is the gap between what people experience and need and what institutions provide; its focus is on institutional processes, not individual workers. A trained local team conducted interviews and observations with practitioners who are skilled and well-versed in their jobs. Their knowledge of the institutional response in everyday practice and their first-hand experience with the people whose cases are being processed supplied many of the critical observations and insights of the audit. The team also reviewed case files, policies, and other documents; this report summarizes their findings.

View Article » LaCrosse_Audit_Phase_2_PostArrest_Through_Prosecution.pdf

Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence Calls

Jackson County, Oregon

Audit Coordinator: Jennifer Maile, Jackson County Council Against Domestic and Sexual Violence; Community Works

Audit work continued, next examining dispatch and law enforcement responses. The audit team analyzed 50 calls to two 911 centers, and a consultant and the audit coordinator analyzed 15-20 police reports of domestic violence from 7 law enforcement agencies (a total of 92 reports) for how victim safety and offender accountability are built into the response of law enforcement officers to dual allegations of violence, sexual assault, stalking, strangulation, child witnesses and individuals from underserved populations; Team members observed and interviewed practitioners, and interviewed battered women; The team and a consultant debriefed all the information, discovering together the themes, conclusions, and recommendations that appear in this report, which truly is a product of group development and writing.

View Article » Jackson_OR_Law_Enforcement_Audit_Report.pdf

Prosecution Response to Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases

Jackson County, Oregon

Audit Coordinator: Jennifer Maile, Jackson County Council Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and Community Works

This audit examined how misdemeanor domestic violence prosecution responds to domestic violence. A team of criminal justice practitioners and battered women's advocates carried it out; team members observed police and probation officer activities, arraignments and sentencing. They interviewed a judge, law enforcement officers, jail staff, a release assistance officer, a clerk of court, prosecutors, a probation officer, a batterer's program provider, court officer, a defense attorney and victim services providers. A consultant and the audit coordinator analyzed 86 files for information available to a prosecutor to make case decisions, and for indicators of how victim safety and offender accountability are built into the job of a prosecutor; the information was compiled in a brief report comparing prosecution practices to current, national best practices in the field of domestic violence prosecution. In addition to this "report card," the report also contains recommendations that the Jackson County Council Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Community Works, and the Jackson County District Attorney's Office can work together to implement.

View Article » Jackson_OR_Prosecution_Audit_Report.pdf

Safety and Accountability Audit of Probation Supervision in Domestic Violence Cases

Carolyn Ham and Stephanie Avalon, edited by Denise Gamache, BWJP

Report of Hennepin County Probation Audit, findings and recommendations. The safety audit was directed toward two questions of interest: 1) Do probation officers have adequate information to enable them to refer domestic violence offenders to an appropriate batterer intervention program?, and 2) How does the communication of probation officers with domestic violence victims contribute to victim safety and offender accountability?

View Article » Safety_Accountability_Audit_Probation_Supervision_in_DV_Cases.pdf

Safety and Accountability Audit Report

Freeborn County, Minnesota

Kristine Lizdas and Rhonda Martinson, BWJP

This is the report from the first phase of the Freeborn County Safety and Accountability Audit. It explores Freeborn County's dispatch and law enforcement response to domestic violence calls.

View Article » Safety_Audit_Freeborn_County_MN.pdf

Winona County Child Custody Safety and Accountability Audit Report

Local Safety Audit Coordinators: Loretta Frederick, Sr. Legal and Policy Advisor, BWJP and Valerie Williams, Women's Resource Center of Winona, MN

The Winona County Child Custody Safety and Accountability Audit explored the question: How is the safety and well-being of victims of domestic violence and their children addressed and promoted in the process of resolving child custody matters in Winona County, MN? This Audit report, the first to address family court child custody cases, consists of key findings and recommendations.

View Article » Winona_Custody_Audit_Report.pdf