HomeMy WebLinkAbout12- Gallatin County Domestic Violence Response Team Memorandum of UnderstandingGallatin County Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT)
Memorandum of Understanding
This Memorandum of Understanding, dated June 29, 2012, is entered by and between following entities
on a full -time basis: Gallatin County Attorney's Office; Gallatin County Victim Services Office; Gallatin
County Misdemeanor Probation Office; the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office; the Bozeman Police
Department; the Montana State University Police Department; Hearts and Homes; Gallatin County office
of Court Services; Bozeman City Attorney's Office; VOICE Center; Gallatin County Child Protection
Services; and HAVEN.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Gallatin County continues to experience a high rate of reported incidents of partner family
member assault; and
WHEREAS, the coordination of a consistent, effective, victim - centered response to such incidents is
required to ensure that responding agencies meet the needs of victims while holding offenders
accountable; and
WHEREAS, communication among agencies charged with responding to such reports is required in
order to erasure a unified approach to domestic and /or relationship violence and related offenses; and
WHEREAS, the DVRT model is a multi - jurisdictional, interdisciplinary approach designed to improve the
provision of services to the victims of partner family member assault and to improve the provision of
services to victims of domestic violence related crimes and to ensure accurate and complete evidence
collection, prosecution, advocacy with the primary focus being on the safety of the victims.
NOW, THEREFORE, in light of the above stated facts, the parties hereto agree as follows:
A Domestic Violence Response Team shall be established and maintained in Gallatin County. The
Gallatin County Domestic Violence Response Team (hereinafter referred to as DVRT) shall
consist of at least one representative from each of the agencies named as parties to this
Memorandum.
2. The following goals are established as the primary objectives of DVRT:
■ To implement a standardized and through investigative process in cases of partner
family member assault.
• To improve the efficiency of the agencies involved in the investigative process
• Information sharing with appropriate service providers to ensure law enforcement and
agency safety.
• To improve the competency of response providers.
• To prevent re- victimization of the victim by the response system.
■ To provide an atmosphere and personnel that is sensitive to the needs of victims and
their families.
■ To facilitate prevention of future incidents of Partner family member assault through
• Safety planning for victims
• Public education
• Referral of survivors and their families to appropriate after care.
3. Each party shall devote sufficient staff and resources to develop and maintain DVRT. As
referenced above at paragraph 1, each party will designate a minimum of one (1) representative
to participate in the implementation and functioning of DVRT. The membership of DVRT must
remain consistent in order for its stated objectives to be achieved. Therefore, each appointment
to DVRT will be exclusive in nature and indefinite in term. Each representative will regularly
attend DVRT meetings, and shall perform other DVRT - related duties as assigned.
4. The primary short-term goal of DVRT will be the development of countywide protocols
governing the investigation, prosecution and provision of victim services in all cases of partner
family member assault. In order to achieve this goal, the parties agree they will provide
whatever reasonable cooperation or DVRT - sponsored protocols once established. The parties
recognize that they will be given the opportunity to provide feedback to DVRT and to contribute
meaningfully to the process of developing these protocols.
5. The parties agree that information shared with DVRT shall, insofar as that information is
confidential or pertains to a particular case, be disseminated only in accordance with Title 44,
Chapter 5 and Title 41, Chapter 3 and Title 26 Chapter 1, part 812 Montana Code Annotated.
6. All parties agree to participate in training and continuing education as required to adequately
educate their personnel in DVRT protocols.
7. The parties agree that the interdisciplinary nature of DVRT will be reflected in the DVRT
protocols. The parties recognize that the implementation of these protocols will necessarily
result in an increased rate of cross - jurisdictional involvement in the investigation and
prosecution of partner family member assaults.
8. This Memorandum of Understanding shall be in effect until such time as one (1) or more
agencies wish to end this agreement. No party shall withdraw from participation under this
Memorandum without first giving other parties forty -five (45) days written notice.
9. This protocol shall be reviewed by the DVRT as needed.
DRAFT 1016112
Building remodel - PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER WITHIN THE HELP CENTER /
HEARTS & HOMES FACILITY AT 3316 WEST BABCOCK STREET, BOZEMAN
Child Advocacy Centers are locations within a community where abused children and their non - offending famiiy
members can go following a report of sexual abuse. These local centers provide:
■ child forensic interview
■ information and education
■ referrals to medical exams and mental health support
• ongoing support to the child and family for the life of the case
CACs create a mentally and physically safe environment for children. They also provide a place where a
multidisciplinary team (MDT) of professionals (including law enforcement, mental health providers, victim advocacy,
medical providers and others) can convene, so the child does not have to go to see each professional separately.
This reduces the chance of additional trauma and the number of interviews or disclosures the child must give,
reducing potential evidence collection errors and increasing the chance of successful prosecution.
Currently the MDT does not have a physical Bozeman location, I and children's forensic interviews are conducted
at the Law and Justice Center, Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, or other facility. The MDT, in collaboration with Help
Center, Inc, and the Hearts & Homes program is in the process of establishing a Child Advocacy Center and working
towards meeting all standards for accreditation by the National Children's Alliance.
In order to meet guidelines, the Hearts & Homes / Help Center facility needs to set up a dedicated, safe space within
an existing interview room and a establish a meeting /observation room. These will need to have an entrance which is
separated from other parts of the building. This will require some minor remodeling and the creation of a room within
the current garage. Our parcel, ID RGG44329, is zoned residential, with allowance for community purposes.
We need:
• Building Plans which will meet code requirements.
• Materials
• Volunteers to help with the building modifications
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have signed our names to this Memorandum which shall serve as an original
on the date first stated above.
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Gallatin County AttWney Office
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Gallatin ounty Misde eanor Probation
Bozeman Police Department
Hearts & Homes" OcG(C�
Bo an City Attor4y's Office
GaIlatk,&uYy Child Protection Services
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GalUtin County Victim Services
Gallatin County She iff ice
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Montana State Universit Mice
Gallatin - ounty Court ervices
1SU VOICE
HAVEN