Domestic Violence Court

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Domestic Violence Court

• A Collaborative and Concerted Effort
• Steve Schreiner Heather Andelin
• City Prosecutor Coordinator-DV Tracking
  Program
• Provo, UT Division of Child and
  Family Services
• Utah Prosecutorial Assistants Association
• Annual Conference
• June 18th and 19th, 2009

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Why Domestic Violence Court?

• We found that there was very little coordination
  between the court, prosecutors, victim advocates,
  DCFS tracking program, and treatment providers

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Why (continued)

• The coordination that did exist was not efficient
  or timely.
• This created a lack of accountability for the
  Domestic Violence Perpetrators.

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GOALS

• Keep victims safe by getting the perpetrators the
  help they need.
• Increase treatment compliance.

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GOALS (continued)

• Avoid Recidivism
• Increase coordination between all the players

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How can we make it happen?

• All the players needed to be involved and willing
  to work together in order to accomplish our goals

• We also needed a specific court date designated
  to address domestic violence cases

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Who are the players?

• Judge and Court Personnel
• Prosecutors
• Defense Counsel
• Victim Advocates
• DCFS Perpetrator Tracking Program
• Domestic Violence Treatment Providers

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Domestic Violence Court IN ACTION

• The key players receive a copy of the DV calendar
  ahead of time
• DCFS goes over the calendar and emails updates on
  the defendants ahead of time to victim advocates
  and prosecutors

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In Action

• The prosecutor and victim advocates meet every
  week prior to Domestic Violence court.
• At court there are 2 victim advocates and 2
  prosecutors.

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In Action

• Victim input is always considered
• DCFS is there to sign up the client immediately
  and to update the court on the defendants
  compliance

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DCFS Domestic Violence Perpetrator Tracking
Program

• When a defendant is ordered to complete a
  Domestic Violence assessment and recommended
  treatment they are first referred to the DCFS
  Tracking Program

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DV Tracking (continued)

• DCFS is able to schedule that initial intake
  appointment in court the day they are ordered.
• At the intake appointment the defendant is given
  a choice of State Licensed DV treatment providers.

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DV Tracking (continued)

• From there they have 5 days to schedule their
  assessment.
• Our goal is to get them started in the program in
  a timely manner. Studies show that the less time
  between the offense and the treatment the more
  effective the treatment.

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DV Tracking (continued)

• DCFS in turn, contacts the court and prosecutors
  regarding their compliance or lack of
• We ARE there to follow them through the process,
  but we want to make sure the defendant knows that
  they are ultimately accountable. Accountability
  is the key!

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DV Tracking (continued)

• DCFS updates the court all along the way. We are
  in constant contact with the treatment providers,
  prosecutors, court, as well as the defendant to
  ensure compliance. Everyone is notified
  immediately if a defendant becomes non-compliant.
  

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Sowhats so great about it?

• The DV court days include arraignments,
  pretrials, OSCs, and review hearings. This helps
  the defendants hear what could happen.
• LIES are not an option when you have someone
  there to hold your feet to the fire!

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whats so great (continued)

• All the players are in the same room at the same
  time to provide the information needed to make
  the decisions required.
• The process is streamlined. Appointments are made
  that day. Updates are available immediately.

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THANK YOU!

• Domestic Violence Court
• A Collaborative
• and Concerted Effort
• Steve Schreiner, Provo City Prosecutor
• [phone]
• sschreiner_at_provo.utah.gov
• Heather Andelin, DCFS DV Tracking Program
  Coordinator
• [phone]
• handelin_at_utah.gov