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HomeMy WebLinkAboutInterval House - 2018-01-01 (2) Operational Agreement January 1, 2018-December 31, 2020 This Operational Agreement shall stand as evidence the Huntington Beach Police Department(HBPD) and Interval House intend to work together as part of the Huntington Beach Collaboration:Violence Against Women Project with the mutual goal of providing a coordinated response to victims of domestic violence and their children in Huntington Beach. The agreement is dependent upon a grant award from the Cal OES Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program for the purposes of creating or enhancing our coordinated response to victims of domestic violence and their children,and the approval of a Professional Services Contract between the City of Huntington Beach and Interval House. To this end, each organization agrees to participate in the Project by coordinating and providing the following: Victim Advocacy Interval House is contracted as the local Cal OES-funded Domestic Violence Assistance (DV) Program recipient for one full-time equivalent Domestic Violence Counselor, pursuant to Evidence Code 1037.1(a)(1). The Interval House Domestic Violence Counselor will: Provide immediate in-person response to requests for advocacy by the Huntington Beach Police Department on a 24-hour basis. Provide priority shelter for domestic violence victims and their children from Huntington Beach on a 24- hour basis including but not limited to a hotel when shelters are full. Provide consultation, resource materials and outreach materials to the Huntington Beach Police Department for the purpose of patrol officers/first responders,and other relevant department personnel. Assist with the development and/or revision of officer and advocate protocols for responding to victims of domestic violence and their children. Assist with the training of patrol officers/first responders, and other relevant department personnel, on responding to victims of domestic violence and their children. Serve as a point of contact with the Huntington Beach Police Department for developing and initiating mechanisms of interagency accountability. Investigation and Coordination The Huntington Beach Police Department will commit at least one full-time investigator to the Huntington Beach Collaboration:Violence Against Women Project. The investigator will act in both an investigative and coordinating capacity,and will: 1 Review arrest and preliminary investigation reports to evaluate cases and provide supplemental reports for issues requiring further investigation within 48 hours of the arrest. Gather and document evidence including witness statements,the identities of all children in the home, previous incidents of domestic violence and violent crimes,as well as civil restraining order information from the California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (CLETS). Provide or facilitate training for patrol officers/first responders on responding to victims of domestic violence and their children. Assist with the development of protocols for ensuring consistent and appropriate response by officers to violations of protective orders in order to ensure family safety. Oversee the completion of domestic violence case follow-up requests or evidence requests by the District Attorney's Office. Provide consultation and resources for officers,and other relevant personnel employed by the Huntington Beach Police Department, on effective domestic violence intervention and response techniques. Serve as a point of contact with the domestic violence service provider and the Domestic Violence Counselor,for developing and initiating mechanisms of interagency accountability. Work in close cooperation with victim advocacy personnel. Training The Huntington Beach Police Department and Interval House will collaborate to provide training to patrol officers/first responders,and other relevant department personnel,on effective domestic violence intervention and response techniques. The training must include, but is not limited to: ■ The dynamics of power and control in violence against victims of domestic violence ■ Understanding the concept of dominate aggressor ■ Crime scene investigation, including: o Conducting thorough victim interviews with detailed accounts of the crime o Treating the physical space as a crime scene and diligently documenting,collecting and booking physical evidence that corroborates the victim's(s')accounts o Photographing victim injuries o Noting children with detail on reports as being present and/or witnesses to the crime o Taping victim interviews/statements whenever possible o Writing detail-specific and comprehensive crime reports that can be effectively used in prosecution, court hearings, civil restraining order cases, child protection and custody hearings and conservatorships o Medical release and confidentiality information o Officer safety 2 i i i Protocols for Sustainable Response The Huntington Beach Police Department will contact Interval House with each domestic violence call. Interval House domestic violence counselors will ensure an immediate response to victims of domestic violence referred by the Huntington Beach Police Department. The response may be to the scene, in person,or by phone 24 hours a day,as determined appropriate by law enforcement. Interval House domestic violence counselors will provide emotional support and crisis counseling, legal advocacy,social services assistance,and other support,as needed. Interval House and the Huntington Beach Police Department will work together to strengthen interagency accountability, protocols, resources,and cross-training to address the specialized needs of domestic violence victims. In the event of concern or conflict,The Huntington Beach Police Project Director and Interval House Supervisor will communicate the concerns and develop a resolution. Interval House and the Huntington Beach Police Department will work together to develop a long-term plan for sustaining effective domestic violence responses after the grant cycle has expired. Co-location The Huntington Beach Police investigators and CSP staff are co-located in the HBPD Investigation Division, Crimes Against Persons Unit,and the Interval House Domestic Violence Counselor is conveniently located nearby at the Interval House business office and confidential shelter location so victims of domestic violence can meet them for shelter and support services in the community. Reasonable work space, interview rooms,and meeting rooms are available to all project partners at the Huntington Beach Police Department. Representatives from the Huntington Beach Police Department and Interval House will meet regularly through phone and scheduled face-to-face meetings. The frequency and duration of such meetings will be based on the needs of the program, but should occur at least quarterly to discuss strategies, effectiveness and the implementation of services. Reporting,Invoicing and Payment For January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018,the Huntington Beach Police Department will subcontract to Interval House the amount of$26,941 (grant award funds)towards one full-time equivalent Domestic Violence Counselor dedicated to this program. The Cal OES LE Grant will fund approximately 61%of the cost(7 months)and Interval House will fund the remaining 39%of cost from other funding sources. Contract amounts for second and third year grant cycle are to be determined, and contingent upon allocation of funds from the Cal OES LE Specialized Units Program. Interval House will submit to the Huntington Beach Police Department an invoice and functional time sheet,with source documentation,for services provided during the funded months. This documentation shall be submitted by the 15'h of every month for the previous month. 3 Interval House will cooperate with the preparation of any progress reports and provide monthly statistical information. The statistical information includes but is not limited to: ■ Number of calls received from Huntington Beach police officers at the 24-hour hotline ■ Number of victims from Huntington Beach served by Interval House ■ Demographics of the victims served • Type of services provided by Interval House to the victims ■ Number of victims who utilized emergency shelter and the number of nights each victim stayed in the shelter • Number of Huntington Beach Police personnel trained e,the undersigned, as authorized representatives of our agencies, do hereby approve this agreement. Carol Williams Robert Handy Executive Director Chief of Police Interval House Huntington Beach Police' Date: Date: 1 AP ROVED AS TO FORM By: CHAEL E. GATES �� CITY ATTORNEY CITY OF HUNI—INGTON OEACH 4