Policy Text
GO 533.06
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533.06
SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS
10-18-2023
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to est ablish procedures for providing care to sexual assault victims and ensuring
that proper investigative techniques are utilized in reported sexual ass aults.
POLIC Y
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department that officers investigating sexual assault s make
every effort to reduce the emotional trauma of the victim, collect information and evidence and follow proper
investigative procedu res.
PROCEDURE A. INITIAL RESPONSE
1. If the question of jurisdiction arises, the officer's first obligation is to the victim. Officers should p rovide
medical aid and comfort to the victim and use caution not to destroy or alter physical evidence.
2. When resp ondin g to a sex ual assault call officers shall :
a. Determine whether the suspect is still at the scene.
b. Determine whether a sexual assault has occurred and broadcast suspect information.
c. S ecure the crime scene and request Crime Scene Investigators (CSI).
d. Prior to obt aining an initial int erview, provide the victim with a copy of the Domestic Violence
Brochure (SPD 957 ), noting the section pertaining to sexual assaults .
(1) An initial investigation by off icers to determine whether a crime has been committed and the
identity of the sus pects shall not constitute a law enforcement initial interview .
e. Obtain preliminary v ictim and witness s tatements as soon as possible.
f. Determi ne if the victim will consent to an evidentiary exam (EE). Officers shall not dissuade a victim
from obtaining an EE.
g. Evidentiary Exam s will be scheduled by detectives unless there is a need for an acute EE. The
following time frames meet the criteria for acute EE .
(1) Victim twelve years of age or older:
(2) V
ictim under twelve years of age:
h. If th
e victim consents to an acute exam immediately ensure that “When Everyone Acts Vi olence
Ends” (WEA VE) is notified .
i. Notify the Communic ations Center as soon as po ssible if the victim is going to undergo an acute
exam .
(1) Upon notification of an acute exa m by an offi cer, the Commun ications Center shall contac t
and adv i se the team that a victim is en
route.
(2) If the vi ctim declines an examination, the reason s shall be noted on the report.
j. Arrange for transportation of the victim to
k. Ob tain the victim’s address , phone number, and other contact information (such as email
addresses, social media inform ation, etc.) so that contact can be made by an investigat or. If there is
GO 533.06
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no address or phone num ber for the victim (as may be the case with persons experiencing
homelessness ), ask the vi ctim to contact the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse (SACA) Unit as soon
as possible during normal office hours.
l. Inform the victim that their name will become a matter o f public record unless they reques t that their
name not be a matter o f record. This inf ormat ion shall be noted on the report .
(1) Officers shall complete a Victim Co nfidentiality Request Form (SPD 273) to be submitt ed to
Records.
3. The offense report does not need to contain every detail of the vi ctim’s statement but shall substantiate
the elements of the crime as the victim will generally be reinterviewed by detective s or forensi c
interviewers
a. When documenting sexual assault c rimes against c hildren unde r fourteen years old , officers should
attempt to only obt ain the basic de tails of the case f rom child victims. It is p referable to attempt to
obtain as much re levant information a s possible from sources other than the child victim ( e.g., from
the reporting party, a parent who is not a suspect , or other witness with direct knowledge of the
event ). This is th e pref erred investigative method w hen dealing with child se xual as sault victim s due
to the possibi lity of un intent ionally in fluencing a child vi ctim’s recollectio n of the incident.
b. Child victim s will often be contact ed for a f ollow up intervie w with a detective or a forensic interview
speci alist.
c. Officers should a ttempt to identify and obt ain a statement from anyone the child v ictim made a
disclosure of abuse.
4. In all re ported or suspected cases of sexual assault, a report should be written. This includes inc ident s
in which the allegations appear unfounded or unsubs tantia ted.
5. Penal Code § 637.4 prohibi ts officers from requesting a victim take a polygraph tes t in a case involving
the use of force, violence, duress, menace, or threat of great bodily harm in the commission of any s ex
offense .
6. The watch commander will d etermi ne if a cal l out for a SACA d etective i s needed.
B. TRANSPORTATION OF RAPE VICTIMS
1. Officers shall ensure transporta tion to a location of the victim ’s choosing within a reasonable distance of
after the sexual assaul t examinati on.