Coordination with other sectors for Sexual Assault investigations

 

Definitions

Sexual Assault: Touching of an objectively sexual nature to which the Victim did not consent.

Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE): Set of medical-legal processes performed by a trained health professional that include the collection of biological material, recording relevant patient history, documenting any injuries, and the secure storage of collected samples.

Third Party Report: Process which allows Victims, who would otherwise not report to police, to access support and to report details of a Sexual Assault to police through a community-based Victim Services program or other designated community program.

Victim: Individual who is reporting a Sexual Assault against them, also referred to as a survivor or complainant.

Victim-Centered Approach: Practice of putting at the forefront a Victim’s rights, safety, needs, and wishes by offering information, support(s), and options whenever appropriate.

Victim Services: Service, as defined in the Victims of Crime Act [RSBC 1996] Chapter 478, that is designed to assist victims and is provided or funded by the government (i.e., community-based Victim Services, police-based Victim Services, or VictimLinkBC) in the jurisdiction of, or embedded in, the police force.

Standards

Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE)

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer or Commissioner must ensure that:

(1) Written procedures are in place related to SAFE, which at a minimum include:

(a) information for the awareness of officers about the level of health care and services the Victim may decide to access, specifically:

(i) medical care only,
(ii) medical care and SAFE, with a report to police at the time of the SAFE, or
(iii) medical care and SAFE, with no report to police at the time of the SAFE (where the Victim may report to police at a later date);

(b) a description of the local service delivery model(s) for SAFE for the area where the Victim is located, for example, that a Victim may access a SAFE either:

(i) at a hospital or other facility within the police jurisdiction where SAFE is provided,
(ii) by a mobile SAFE service from a trained Sexual Assault examiner that travels to the Victim, should they present to a hospital or other facility where SAFE service is not offered, or
(iii) at a hospital or other facility, outside of the police jurisdiction, in which case the procedures describe the process for transportation using a Victim-Centered Approach;

(c) taking into consideration the level of care and the SAFE delivery models in Standards (1)(a) and (b) above respectively, the steps and the process the officer must follow in relation to:

(i) notification of Victim Services if not already done, consistent with Standard (5) of BCPPS 5.4.2 Intake and Investigations of Sexual Assaults,
(ii) transportation arrangements,
(iii) privacy of the Victim in relation to the SAFE,
(iv) obtaining consent to release SAFE records to police, including any considerations related to the age of the Victim, or the relationship between the Victim and the subject of the complaint,
(v) chain of custody, transportation, and storage of samples, including where the Victim reports to police before the SAFE is conducted, and where the Victim reports to police at a later time,
(vi) Third Party Reports where the Victim also accessed a SAFE, and
(vii) documentation on the file and other entries in police record management systems; and

(d) the officer documents steps taken and communication with the Victim in relation to the SAFE.