301617

ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: May 1, 2015  Amends - GO 16.1.5 ( November 30, 2009 ) Number: 16.1.5 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: April Reviewing Authority: CID / Investigative Services Subject: Domes tic Violence/ Dating Violence Victim Support Program This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to enhance victim support through the use of the 9-1-1 Cellular Phone. 2. Policy It is t he policy of the agency to assist victims of domestic and dating violence and to employ community resources accordingly. 3. Procedures A. Issuance Guidelines 1. Cellular phones may be issued to victims of crimes of violence involving domestic violence or dating violence to include aggravated battery, aggravated assault and aggravated stalking investigations, or as deemed necessary by the Domestic Crimes supervisor or the Person Crimes supervisor , after determination has been made as to the validity of the crime and cooperation of the victim. Issuance criteria will include, but not be limited to the following: a. The victim is a resident of Orange County. b. The participant is a victim of any crime mentioned above and the crime has been documented by a law e nforcement agency in Orange County. c. The victim has an injunction against domestic violence, or repeat violence, against the alleged suspect. A copy of the injunction must be kept on the victim’s person at all times. d. The victim is not living with the alleged suspect. 2. The lead detective shall contact the squad supervisor and advise him/her of the case and circumstances which warrant the issuance of a cellular phone and participation in the program. 3. Upon approval, the victim will be contacted a nd asked to respond to the Domestic Crimes or Person Crimes office so a cellular phone may be issued. The lead detective shall make accommodations for a victim who for any valid reason cannot respond to the office. 16.1.5, Page 2 4. The lead detective shall make arrange ments to obtain a cellular telephone for the victim from either the Community Relations Section or from Harbor House. 5. The lead detective or the detective’s supervisor shall monitor the case’s progress and make arrangements to retrieve the telephone wh en deemed appropriate. 6. The phone will be issued for a maximum of ninety (90) days. An extension of use can be obtained if the lead detective feels the circumstances warrant such and upon approval of the Domestic Crimes supervisor. 7. It will be the re sponsibility of the lead detective to confirm that the telephone is returned from the victim. B. Other Squad Usage Other squads within the agency may find it advantageous to utilize the cellular phone program. The lead detective shall make the request through their squad supervisor. The squad supervisor may request a cellular telephone from the Community Relations Section . C. Response The response to 911 calls placed by the victim will be handled in accordance with agency policy. D. Termination Criter ia The following criteria for terminating participation in the program are not meant to be all inclusive: 1. Case adjudicated in court. 2. Alleged suspect is permitted use of the victim’s residence. 3. Victim fails to appear at court or at a hearing. 4. Misuse of the cellular phone . 5. Injunction is removed or expires. 6. When the victim or the detective determines that the threat of violence has dissipated or the victim initiates contact with the alleged suspect in violation of the injunction. 7. When deem ed appropriate by the Domestic Crimes supervisor.