Part 6 - Family Liaison Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is the role of the family liaison officer?
The role of the FLO involves the day to day management of the partnership between the family of the deceased and the Police investigation.
The primary function of the FLO is that of an investigator not a support person. However in the us role they must offer andalso coordinate support for the family needs.
Family liaison plan - what factors are considered?
OC investigation or assigned rep must endeavour to achieve a partnership approach with the family.
Plan considers:
- selection of FLO and criteria for employment
- exit plan of FLO
- objective of FLO
- must appropriate methods of interviews with family members
- info to be released / withheld from family
- requests made by family that are not agreed to
- complaints made by the family
- any family members who may be considered as suspects
- Victim support
Exit Plan
Must be developed before the FLO is deployed and communicated to the family at the commencement of the deployment.
Deployment of FLO
At an early stage that FLO should identify which family member(a) to liaise with.
The term family:
-Includes partners, parents, siblings, children, guardians, whanau and any others who have had a direct and close relationship with the victim.
-Includes chosen family
Should reflect the victims, culture and lifestyle
Suspect within the family - what needs to be considered?
Where a family member is suspected of being involved in the events, the OC investigation must take great care and assess any risk associated with the point of contact and FLO.
They should consider:
- welfare and safety
- increased monitoring of work and interaction with the family
-Level of information disclosed
- The process by which any intelligence arises from FLO contact with a family will be managed
- Need for Flo to have clear family and directions
-Not using FLO at search warrants or to arrest a family member
Victim Support
FLO Must inform the family of the existence of victim support at the earliest appropriate opportunity and inform the OC investigation of the families wishes. Consultation between victim support coordinator, the OC investigation and FLO will establish the liaison agreements to be adopted.
What FLO must do before meeting the family?
- Liaise closely with the OC investigation regarding parameters of information to be shared with and/or held back from the family
- Familiarise themselves with the inquiry
- Familiarise themselves with all information established concerning the family, including known family composition or dynamics, cultural and lifestyle considerations, religious beliefs and communication requirements, e.g. language or disability
- Familiarise themselves with available information and intelligence which could impact the liaison role, such as previous police involvement with the victim or family
- Establish what contact the family has had with Police since the incident/death
-Establish what information the family has been given - Established what information concerning the incident is already in the public domain
Witnesses within the family:
The FLO will need to make an assessment to determine the interview requirements for family members and friends of the victim. This will enable the investigation team to identify which individuals require interviewing and to assist in respect of each witnesses:
- if they require special consideration
-The availability of the witness
-Any particular needs the witness has for assistance
-The optimum approach to be taken when approaching and interviewing the witness.
FLO should also address any fears of giving evidence.
FlO can make arrangements to visit the court before any hearing to show them the layout etc.
FLO - record keeping
- dedicated notebook to record all family interaction.
- reviewed regularly by OC investigation.
During the early stages the FLO must do the following with the family:
- provide immediate appropriate information to the family concerning the death of the victim, i.e. post-mortem and coroners process.
- Provide the when someone dies booklet
- Establish from family members any immediate evidence, information or rumours and pass it directly to OC investigation for urgent attention
- Establish any concerns for safety or if they have been subject to threats or intimidation and require police protection or assistance
- Give or facilitate initial practical support for members of the family eg transport
- As far as possible, protect the family from unwarranted media intrusion
- Arrange temporary housing when the family home has been designated as a crime scene
- Where appropriate And at the direction of OC investigation, arrange for the crown solicitor to meet the family to explain decisions taken.
Victim impact statements
The statement must be available for sentencing and should be no older than 28 days at the time of sentencing.
Homicide trained victim support volunteers a train to assist police by taking victim impact statements from surviving family members
Disclosure of information to the family:
- Responsibility of OC investigation to authorise what information will will not be released
Family should be notified of:
- Programs, remedies, or service available through Police to the family as victims in their own right
- Progress of the investigation
- The families role as witnesses in the prosecution of the offence
We are an offender is arrested, the FLO must :
- Inform the family of their rights to register on the VNR
- Make all reasonable efforts to ascertain any views of the family regarding bail and ensure these views are communicated to the court
- inform the victims family of:
- Charges laid or reason why they have not been
- Released on bail
- Date and place of each court appearance
- Any application made by the accused
-Details of bail conditions
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Viewing, Identification and release of the body
Arrangements for the family to view the body must be undertaken by the FLO, or alternatively by the OC body or a person directed by the OC investigation,
FLO should ascertain the viewing facilities available and keep aware that people often touch or kiss their body. OC investigation mask of authority is impending. Forensic examinations may need to restrict the extent of viewing.
FLO must provide family as much information as possible about condition of the body before viewing.
FLO should be prepared to spend time with the family afterwards .
Liaise with OC investigation and coroners office concerning the release of the body and promptly provide the family with advice of any developments .
Police must inform the family where a tissue samples are taken from the body, for example to be sent to ESR for analysis. Police must seek the views of the family regarding disposal of such samples. .
Victim lifestyle enquiries
FL as usually task together information about the victim and family members, to compile a victim profile.
Media
FLO must not issue any statements to the media unless specifically requested to do so by the OC investigation, in consultation with the media liaison officer.
FLO should take steps to :
-Prepare a victims family for a level of media interest and to provide a copy of media information letter to family
- Establish families views on any media appeals
-Request the family to nominate a spokesperson
- We are possible, provide copies of media releases to the family before distribution
- Consult the family before the release of personal details relating to the victim
-inform victims, family of developments and investigation before releasing information to the media
- Appraise OC investigation of media activity around the family
- Request approval from the family to release a photograph of the victim we’re practical
