Applicable To: Domestic Violence Squad employees

Approval Authority:  Major Keith Meadows

Signature:  Signed by KM

Date Signed:  11/18/11

1.               PURPOSE

The purpose of this memorandum is to establish the Domestic Violence Squad. The Domestic Violence Squad shall function within the Special Victims Unit and will investigate incidents of Domestic Violence.

2.               POLICY

It is the policy of the Domestic Violence Squad to investigate crimes related to domestic violence.

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1              The Section Commander will ensure that vital information is communicated to other section commanders.

3.2              The Unit Commander will be responsible for the overall administrative function of the unit and will maintain close liaison with other units such as Homicide and Zone Investigations. The unit commander will ensure that information is distributed between the different units and that section commanders are kept current on investigations.

3.3              Unit Supervisors will review and prioritize all incoming incident reports for assignment. Supervisors will monitor the overall quality of ongoing investigations to ensure that appropriate resources are available and the appropriate investigative action is taken.

3.4              Investigators assigned to the Domestic Violence Squad will conduct thorough and complete investigations of all cases assigned to them in a timely manner.

4.               ACTION

4.1              The Domestic Violence Squad will investigate incidents of rape, robbery and aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, committed between past or present spouses, persons who are parents of the same child, and persons living together. The domestic violence squad will not investigate cases involving homicide.

4.1.1           The Domestic Violence Squad will operate day and evening watch shifts. Incidents of domestic violence requiring investigative response during morning watch hours will be handled by the morning watch Special Victims Unit Investigator. When the morning watch Special Victims Unit Investigator is not available, domestic investigative requests will be handled by the General Investigations Unit.

4.1.2           Investigators in the Domestic Violence Squad will respond to domestic violence calls involving:

1.    Sexual assault;

2.    Robbery;

3.    Aggravated assault with serious injury;

4.    Incidents involving violation of a valid protective order;

5.    As requested by zone officers or other investigative units.

4.2.             Responsibilities of Investigator:

4.2.1           On-Scene:

1.    Respond to the scene;

2.    Ensure medical treatment has been sought for the victim if needed;

3.    Coordinate Crime Scene;

4.    Call for the Crime Scene Unit;

5.    Obtain statements from witnesses;

6.    Obtain statements from the outcry person;

7.    Obtain statements from responding officers;

8.    Collect evidence;

9.    Make arrest if appropriate (see APD.SOP.3030 “Arrest Procedures”);

10.  Ensure a lookout of the suspect is given out city wide if the suspect is not in custody.

4.2.2           Responding to the Hospital:

1.    Collect the victim’s clothing (when domestic incident involves rape, or clothing evidence is relevant to crime committed);

2.    Ensure that a rape kit is completed and properly inventoried;

3.    Obtain statements (victim, EMT’s, family, friends and whoever brought victim to the hospital);

4.    Have victim sign medical release forms;

5.    Interview examining physician;

6.    Complete original incident report;

7.    Ensure victim is transported to a location of safety upon completion of medical treatment;

8.    Notify Victim Witness and Social Service Advocates as applicable.

4.2.3           Domestic Violence Cases (Assigned)

1.    Contact victim and ensure that he or she has received medical treatment;

2.    Request the Crime Scene Unit to photograph the victim and process the crime scene, if one is known;

3.    Schedule an appointment to interview victim;

4.    Obtain statements from the outcry person;

5.    Interview/re-interview witnesses as necessary;

6.    Obtain medical records;

7.    If the crime occurred in Fulton County, consult with the Assistant District Attorney assigned to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Crimes against Women and Children Unit (or in his or her absence, the Complaint Room attorney) about developing a disposition for the case. If the crime occurred in DeKalb County, consult with the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. If the crime occurred at Hartsfield Jackson Airport, consult with Clayton County District Attorney’s Office;

8.    Notify Victim Witness and Social Service Advocates as applicable.

4.3              Arrest Warrants

4.3.1           When an investigator secures an arrest warrant, the investigator will place one copy in the warrant file, one copy in the working file and give a copy to the secretary to place in the master file. A copy will also be given to the supervisor, who will log it on the Arrest Warrant Log (refer to APD.SOP.5010 “Criminal Investigations Division”).

4.3.2           The investigator must hand-deliver the original copy of the arrest warrant to the Identification Unit and complete the necessary documents to flag the suspect.

4.3.3           When an arrest warrant is obtained, the investigator will notify the Fulton County Complaint Room or the DeKalb County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office or the Clayton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and presents them with a copy of the warrant and other pertinent investigative documents. A complete warrant package will be submitted to the Fugitive Unit who will be responsible for serving the arrest warrant (refer to APD.SOP.5010 “Criminal Investigations Division”).

4.3.4           When an arrest is made, the Domestic Violence investigator will follow the procedures for the Fulton County Complaint Room or the DeKalb/Clayton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, prepare and submit the required documents, and will have the suspect transported to the appropriate detention facility. 

4.3.5           The Domestic Violence Investigator will ensure the warrant is removed from the system.

4.4              Case Preparation

4.4.1           All investigations will be conducted with the goal of being so detailed that the cases may be successfully prosecuted even if the victim refuses to testify in court.

4.4.2           All cases in which the victim refuses to cooperate with the investigation must be presented to the Crimes Against Women and Children’s Unit (CWAC) prior to the case being closed.

4.4.3           Investigators will:

1.    Maintain an accurate record of daily investigative activities on the Summary of Investigation Form, and/or supplementary offense report form;

2.    Prepare complete working files;

3.    Collect and combine all facts relative to the investigation to ensure that logical conclusions will be drawn;

4.    Present testimony in court;

5.    Assist personnel of other APD divisions, sections and units when called upon, especially FOD (Field Operations Division) officers, with the investigation of cases for which they are responsible; 

6.    Make available to other members of the Special Victims Unit information, occurrences, and sources of information that might aid in other investigations;

7.    Respond to subpoenas issued by authorities (Subpoenas for civil cases and character witnesses should be immediately brought to the attention of a supervisor);

8.    Advise their immediate supervisor, or next higher authority, of matters of importance, unusual arrests or occurrences, or other conditions, which may require his/her attention;

9.    Complete the Form APD-334 “Investigator’s Assignment Record” – refer to and comply with APD.SOP.5010 “Criminal Investigations Division.”

5.               DEFINITIONS

5.1              Family Violence:  The occurrence of one or more of the following acts between past or present spouses, persons who are parents of the same child, parents and children, step-parents and step-children, foster parents and foster children, or other persons living or formerly living in the same household:  (OCGA § 19-13-1 "Family Violence Defined")

1.    Any felony; or

2.    Commission of offenses of battery, simple battery, simple assault, assault, and stalking, criminal damage to property, unlawful restraint, or criminal damage to property.

3.    The term "family violence" shall not be deemed to include reasonable discipline administered by a parent to a child in the form of corporal punishment, restraint, or detention.

5.2              Aggravated Stalking:  A person commits the offense of aggravated stalking when such person, in violation of a bond to keep the peace posted pursuant to code section 17-6-110, temporary protective order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction or condition of pretrial release, condition of probation, or condition of parole in effect prohibiting the behavior described in this subsection, follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person about a place or places without the consent of the other person for the purpose of harassing and intimidating the other person.  GA Code 16-5-91

5.3              Serious injury:  An injury that requires immediate medical attention or hospitalization.

6.               CANCELLATIONS

                  N/A

7.               REFERENCES

                  N/A