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recognition by the Attorney General
The Attorney General’s Community Recognition Program for Promising Practices in Domestic Violence Response is designed to recognize localities that have instituted promising or innovative practices in responding to domestic violence in their communities. This Program also encourages localities to develop and implement policies and practices to enhance the community response to domestic violence issues. The Program is a collaborative effort of the Office of the Attorney General with several state agencies and non-profit organizations, including the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Department of State Police, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance.
Localities selected during the first session of the Program were recognized by the Attorney General, Verizon Wireless, and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance at a ceremony on April 28, 2009. The Program provides statewide recognition of local practices and incentives to localities which may be used in promoting local programs, crime prevention efforts, and in other ways. Applications for the second session of the Program will be available to localities on May 1, 2009, and will be accepted through July 31, 2009.
ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible, the locality must meet the following three requirements:
CRITERIA
Eligible localities must meet all of the Essential Elements and at least five Optional Elements in their response to domestic violence. For each identified element, the locality must provide a written explanation of, or to the extent possible, documentation of how the locality meets the requirements of the element.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
The following eighteen (18) elements are Essential Elements that the locality must meet in order to be recognized for its local response to domestic violence. These elements have been divided into three categories: Community Response, Policies and Procedures, and Training.
Community Response
There is an inter-agency domestic violence coordinating team that meets at least quarterly with a defined purpose that includes reviewing and enhancing local policy and procedure. The coordinating team includes, but is not limited to, the following representatives:
The local government actively supports local domestic violence efforts, which may include, but is not limited to, commitment of resources such as funding, meeting space, or administrative support.
An accredited domestic violence agency or program is available to victims and their children within the locality, or within a reasonable distance of the center of the locality. An accredited domestic violence agency is a domestic violence agency or program that has met the training, administrative, and technical requirements set forth for accreditation by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance.
Policies and Procedures
The local law enforcement agency has a written policy that establishes arrest policies and procedures for domestic violence and family abuse cases. This policy is reviewed and updated annually. Va. Code Ann. § 9.1-1300.
When responding to calls involving domestic violence, law enforcement officers provide victims of domestic violence with both oral and written information regarding the legal and community resources available to them. Va. Code Ann. § 19.1-81.3(C).
Local prosecutors have established policies and procedures regarding the prosecution of misdemeanor domestic violence cases and protective order violations.
When issuing an emergency protective order, the judge or magistrate provides a protected person with the form for use in filing a petition for a protective order and with written information regarding protective orders, including the telephone numbers of domestic violence agencies and legal referral sources. Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-253.4.
The local Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court has an intake process for domestic violence cases, including protective order petitions.
Local intake officers routinely provide a person seeking a protective order with a written explanation of the conditions, procedures, and time limits applicable to the issuance of protective orders. Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-260.
The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Clerk’s Office (or Combined District Court Clerk’s Office) enters protective orders into the VCIN system no later than the close-of-business on the day of issuance of the protective order. Va. Code Ann. §§ 16.1-253.1, 16.1-253.4 and 16.1-279.1
A process exists for referral of first-time domestic violence offenders to local community corrections for assessment where available. Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-57.3.
Local judges routinely notify respondents of the firearms restrictions, both federal and state, related to protective orders. Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.1:4; 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8).
Local sheriffs’ offices have established policies and procedures regarding security for court personnel and to protect court users from potential harm from alleged abusers.
Local courts have a current list of qualified spoken and sign language interpreters. Va. Code Ann. §§ 19.1-164, 19.2-164.1.
Training
Law enforcement personnel receive annual training on domestic violence policies and responding to domestic and family violence calls.
Local prosecutors who prosecute domestic violence cases receive annual training on domestic violence-related issues.
Local judges receive training on domestic violence issues, including the issue of stalking, and updates on changes to state laws related to domestic violence.
Local magistrates receive training on domestic violence issues and updates on changes to state laws related to domestic violence.
OPTIONAL ELEMENTS FOR COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
The following fifteen (15) elements are Optional Elements, of which the locality must meet a minimum of five (5) in order to be recognized for its local response to domestic violence. Where a locality has implemented an innovative or promising local practice or program related to domestic violence in the community that is not included on this list, Element “O” permits the locality to provide information on this practice or program. If deemed appropriate by the Program, the locality’s local practice or program may be used to satisfy an optional element.
The locality has a certified Batterer Intervention Program.
The locality supports educational programs in local middle and high schools regarding domestic and intimate partner violence.
The locality has a TRIAD Program (a crime prevention program for seniors and law enforcement) that includes an elder abuse prevention component.
The locality has a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), focused on adult sexual assault.
The locality has a local or regional Fatality Review Team for review of adult fatalities related to domestic violence.
The local inter-agency domestic violence response team includes representatives from local healthcare providers, hospitals, or public health.
The local inter-agency domestic violence response team includes a local magistrate.
The local inter-agency domestic violence response team includes representatives from agencies or programs focusing on the elderly, disabled, and/or limited English speaking populations.
Local law enforcement policies and procedures address guidelines on the service of protective orders across jurisdictional lines and, if applicable, across state lines.
Local law enforcement policies and procedures include the expedited service of protective orders.
The locality, or a local public or private agency, provides services to children and youth exposed to domestic violence.
The local courts have designated waiting areas for children during court proceedings.
The locality has a community-based primary prevention program that addresses domestic violence (e.g. DELTA, Red Flag Campaign, Student Connections Clubs, Mentors in Violence Prevention, Men of Strength Clubs, etc.).
The locality has implemented use of the I-CAN! System for online completion of protective order forms.
The locality has other domestic violence related programs deemed appropriate by the Attorney General’s Community Recognition Program. Please specify the name of the program.