Victim_and_Witness_Assistance

Policy 317CSU Police Department Systemwide Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/08/30, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentVictim and Witness Assistance - 1Victim and Witness Assistance 317.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to ensure that crime victims and witnesses receive appropriate assistance, that they are provided with information from government and private resources, and that the agency meets all related legal mandates. 317.2 POLICY The CSU Police Department is committed to providing guidance and assistance to the victims and witnesses of crime. The members of the CSU Police Department will show compassion and understanding for victims and witnesses and will make reasonable efforts to provide the support and information identified in this policy. 317.3 CRIME VICTIM INFORMATION Every employee reporting or investigating a crime where a victim has suffered direct or threatened physical, psychological or financial harm as a result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime or delinquent act will ensure the victim has been provided with information about the existence of the local victim centers. This may be accomplished by providing the victim the Marsy's Card with the case report number noted on the card (Cal. Penal Code § 679.026). A Victim of Violent Crime form should also be provided if the victim suffered an injury as a direct or proximate cause of that crime. 317.4 CRIME VICTIM LIAISON DUTIES The Chief of Police shall appoint a member of the Department to serve as the crime victim liaison (2 CCR 649.36). The crime victim liaison will be the point of contact for individuals requiring further assistance or information from the CSU Police Department regarding benefits from crime victim resources. This person shall also be responsible for maintaining compliance with all legal mandates related to crime victims and/or witnesses. The crime victim liaison is specifically tasked with the following: (a)Developing and implementing written procedures for notifying and providing forms for filing with the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) to crime victims, their dependents, or family. Access to information or an application for victim compensation shall not be denied based on the victim's or derivative victim's designation as a gang member, associate, or affiliate, or on the person's documentation or immigration status (Government Code § 13962; 2 CCR 649.35; 2 CCR 649.36). (b)Responding to inquiries concerning the procedures for filing a claim with CalVCB (2 CCR 649.36). (c)Providing copies of crime reports requested by CalVCB or victim witness assistance centers. Disclosure of reports must comply with the Records Maintenance and Release Policy. CSU Police Department Systemwide Policy Manual Victim and Witness Assistance Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/08/30, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentVictim and Witness Assistance - 2(d)Annually providing CalVCB with the crime victim liaison's contact information (Government Code § 13962). (e)Developing in consultation with sexual assault experts a sexual assault victim card explaining the rights of victims under California law (Penal Code § 680.2). 1.Ensuring that sufficient copies of the rights of sexual assault victim card are provided to each provider of medical evidentiary examinations or physical examinations arising out of sexual assault in the CSU Police Department jurisdiction (Penal Code § 680.2). (f)Providing information required by Penal Code § 679.09 of a deceased minor to a parent or guardian of the minor whose death is being investigated. 1.In cases where the parent or guardian of the deceased minor cannot be located, information required by Penal Code § 679.09 shall be provided to the victim's immediate family, upon their request. (g)Providing notification to victims of human trafficking or abuse of their right to have a human trafficking advocate and a support person that the victim chooses present during an interview by the Department, prosecutor, or the suspect's defense attorney (Penal Code § 236.21). 317.5 CRIME VICTIMS Officers should provide all victims with the applicable victim information handouts that provide information on available assistance services. Officers should never guarantee a victim's safety from future harm but may make practical safety suggestions to victims who express fear of future harm or retaliation. Officers should never guarantee that a person qualifies as a victim for the purpose of compensation or restitution but may direct him/her to the proper written department material or available victim resources. Officers should provide victims/witnesses with the Department's phone number in the event the person has additional information or question in the future. 317.5.1 VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING Officers investigating or receiving a report involving a victim of human trafficking shall inform the victim, or the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a minor, that upon the request of the victim the names and images of the victim and the victim's immediate family members may be withheld from becoming a matter of public record until the conclusion of the investigation or prosecution (Penal Code § 293). 317.6 VICTIM INFORMATION The Chief of Police or authorized designee shall ensure that victim information handouts are current and available in the police lobby 24 hours a day. These should include as appropriate: (a)Shelters and other community resources for victims of domestic violence. (b)Community resources for victims of sexual assault. CSU Police Department Systemwide Policy Manual Victim and Witness Assistance Copyright Lexipol, LLC