Sherwin Figueroa Assistant District Attorney Cobb District Attorney’s Office

 A group of people with a single mission ◦ Mandated or single person/organization initiative  Who are the people? ◦ Multi-disciplinary: Law enforcement, Animal Control, Prosecutors, Veterinarians ◦ Non-traditional: lay/concerned citizens, faith based leaders ◦ And…backups  What is the mission? ◦ Set systems in place everyday operations ◦ For disaster/crisis intervention Benefits Reduced transactional costs Communication Prepared Power

 Identify “stakeholders”  Be inclusive not exclusive ◦ Be creative  Not just domestics, farm/exotics  Rescue/Charity groups  “Concerned citizens”  Elected officials  Press/bloggers  People who own victim-animals  Written letter, meeting in person, asking influential leaders to invite others for you ◦ Do follow ups (always have a sign in sheet), for anyone who expresses interest  Ask “How can our task force help you?”

 LAPD ◦ Its mission is to break the connection between animal abuse and human violence. It is also the ACTF’s mission to educate the diverse communities within Los Angeles about the significance of animal cruelty, neglect, and/or abuse. Since its inception, there have been 31felony and 14 misdemeanor arrests involving animal cruelty.  Taskforce of Southern Arizona (ACT) ◦ has worked towards educating the community – both the general public and law enforcement – about the animal cruelty felony law in Arizona (ARS ). ACT also brings together different law enforcement agencies in the community to serve as a clearinghouse for ongoing cases and tips that may otherwise not be connected.  ST. Louis ◦ Bike Patrol is a new program from the Humane Society of Missouri designed to take a proactive approach to preventing animal abuse and educating the community about proper animal care by offering one-on-one interactions during patrols  Ohio ◦ three main pillars as an organization: Education, Assistance, Enforcement  Vermont ◦ statewide task force to evaluate the state of animal cruelty investigation and response in Vermont.

 Mission statement Cobb Domestic Violence Task Force ◦ It shall be the mission of the Cobb County Domestic Violence Task Force (hereby referred to as the “Task Force,”) to ultimately work towards eliminating domestic violence through creating and fostering a cooperative relationship between members and the community; by establishing and reviewing uniform policies and procedures to address the protection of victims and children and the prevention and intervention of batterers; and by educating the members, victims, and the general public regarding the issue(s) of domestic violence and its long term effects.

 Tackle Common Problems and “hard stuff” ◦ Untrained investigations and lacking prosecutions ◦ Poor Testifying on the stand and report writing ◦ Lack on resources/space/money/etc ◦ Expediting animal cases through the criminal justice system  Review cases ◦ Asses what was done, how could you improve next time, etc  Obtain reports, follow cases arrest to trial  Send findings to prosecutors, animal control, or police ◦ Set Protocols/roadmaps or goals for agencies to strive for  Educate ◦ “Go to” ◦ Print and pass out literature ◦ Offer free trainings, speakers ◦ View movies/documentaries  Make Sub Committees with targeted goals  Send your meeting minutes to community leaders, will show your productivity and educate

 Very important to include Dept of Agriculture ◦ for license issues and inspection warrants ◦ Non-domestic animals  Include Judges/Prosecutors, or people who can help you get to Judges/Prosecutors ◦ Important for the implementing your ideas/protocols  What should law enforcement on Sundays/Holidays? ◦ Have go-to contacts available ◦ Backups  Communication ◦ Make sure “stakeholders” or people in the “system” are aware of your suggestions/protocols

 Once organized, consider bylaws, voting structures  Apply for Grants or ask for Donations  Reach out to other task forces  Ideas for meetings ◦ Speaker, who they are, what they do, etc ◦ Read materials and discuss (articles/studies/etc)

 Georgia Commission on Family Violence Georgia Commission on Family Violence ◦  Cobb County Domestic Violence Task Force