Résumé
This publication shares the discussion and opinions of the law enforcement officials, academics, and subject matter experts who attended the August 4, 2015 roundtable, and the information and recommendations included in the report are those of the participants. The first chapter of this publication, “Agency Culture,” discusses how a law enforcement agency’s overall culture—the values, beliefs, and behaviors of an organization, from the top executives to newly recruited officers—can impact the agency’s response to sexual assault and domestic violence. The second chapter, “A Victim-Centered Approach,” discusses strategies for how law enforcement agencies can support and empower victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The third chapter, “Officer Training,” provides strategies for training officers to conduct thorough investigations and to effectively engage with victims during each stage of the investigative process. The fourth chapter, “Agency Policy,” discusses the importance of having department policies that give clear, useful, and appropriate guidance to officers with respect to sexual assault and domestic violence response. The fifth chapter, “Officer Accountability,” examines strategies for ensuring that officers are held accountable for how they classify and investigate sexual assault and domestic violence cases. This section also discusses the issues that arise when an officer is identified as the perpetrator in a sexual assault or domestic violence incident and provides suggestions from participants on how to properly handle those cases. The final chapter, “Resources and Partnerships,” explores how law enforcement agencies can benefit by collaborating with prosecutors, local service providers, and community advocacy groups. These partnerships can provide assistance to resource-strapped departments and encourage higher reporting rates by demonstrating to victims that they will be treated well within the system. Participants outlined strategies for leveraging community resources and shared promising initiatives for creating a more supportive environment for victims.