1. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Family Violence Protocol
Integrated Training for Law Enforcement, Social Services, and Advocates
overview and the link
Merced County Human Services Agency
HSA-SAS mod1link.ppt (5/07)
Family Violence Protocol Integrated Training 1

2. Contents What? Why? How? Who? Connections What is . . . ?
Common Charges
Key Governing Statutes
What is ?
Domestic Violence
Child Abuse and Neglect
Elder Abuse
Animal Abuse
“The Link”
Research Proves It
Working Together

3. What? Why? How? Who?

4. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Protocol Defined
Family Violence Protocol represents a new way of doing business.
Cutting edge agreement addressing link between all forms of family violence:
Domestic Violence
Child Abuse and Neglect
Adult and Elder Abuse
Animal Abuse
Covers all of Merced County.
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5. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Why It Matters
Child abuse and domestic violence often co-occur in the same family.
Law enforcement, child welfare, and domestic violence advocates need to communicate and collaborate to keep victims safe.
District Attorney and Court depend on good reports in order to successfully prosecute.
All parties agreed on need for better procedures for cross-reporting.
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6. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
How We Did It
Part of Children’s Action Plan.
Led by Child Abuse and Family Violence Prevention Council—Human Services Agency and A Woman’s Place.
September 2005 through June 2006
Fifteen meetings with team to develop and test ideas.
August 2006
Family Violence Protocol was signed by all local police chiefs, Sheriff, District Attorney, Superior Court, Human Services Agency, Probation, Agriculture Commissioner, and A Woman’s Place.
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7. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Who Was Involved
Forty-four participants:
Law enforcement dispatch, investigation, commanders, and chiefs
Human Services Agency (Child Welfare and Adult Protective Services social workers)
A Woman’s Place
District Attorney
Probation
Animal Control
Judge
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8. Connections

9. Family Violence Protocol
Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Family Violence Protocol
PROTOCOL
Animal
Abuse
Domestic
Violence
Child Abuse
and Neglect
Adult and
Elder Abuse
Family Violence Protocol Integrated Training 9

10. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Common Charges
Assault
Rape
Abuse of spouse, former spouse, cohabitant
Unlawful sexual intercourse—statutory rape
Rape of a child—lewd and lascivious acts with a child
Felony or misdemeanor child endangerment
Annoying or molesting a child
Aggravated trespassing—forcible entry
Threats—criminal threats—stalking—harassment—annoying telephone calls
Malicious destruction of a telephone line or wireless communication device
Violation of a protective order
Firearm violations
Elder abuse
Cruelty to animals
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11. Key Governing Statutes
Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Key Governing Statutes
PC § : Taking Temporary Custody of Firearm at Scene of Family Violence Incident allows law enforcement to take temporary custody of any firearm/deadly weapon for the protection of peace officer or others present.
PC § § et seq.: Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence require law enforcement to develop policies and standards for responding to domestic violence.
PC § 836: Peace Officer’s Authority to Arrest Under Warrant or Without Warrant: Explanation During Domestic Violence Calls of Citizen’s Arrest Rights; Arrest Without a Warrant of Person Violating Protective Order; Assault and Battery Arrests Without Warrant.
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12. Key Governing Statutes (Cont.)
Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Key Governing Statutes (Cont.)
PC § § 1116, – PC , PC et seq., : Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and WIC § defines child abuse and neglect and mandates that allegations be reported to Child Welfare Services and/or law enforcement.
PC § 368 and WIC § defines abuse and neglect of elders and dependent adults.
PC § allows employees of county child and adult protective service agencies to report suspected animal abuse to be investigated.
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13. What is . . .?

14. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is a wide variety of behaviors used by individuals to exert power and control, through fear and intimidation, over their intimate partners, former partners, or family members.
Domestic Violence or battering includes:
Physical abuse
Emotional abuse
Psychological abuse
Any other tactics employed to reinforce control over the victim
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15. Child Abuse and Neglect
Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Child Abuse and Neglect
Child Abuse and Neglect is:
Physical injury
Sexual maltreatment
Emotional maltreatment
Deprivation of necessities under circumstances indicating the child’s welfare is harmed or threatened
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16. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Elder Abuse
Elder abuse and neglect is any form of mistreatment that results in harm or loss to an older person including:
Physical harm
Sexual abuse
Financial exploitation
Emotional or verbal abuse
Neglect, including self-neglect
Abandonment
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17. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Animal Abuse
Animal abuse is:
The crime of inflicting physical pain, suffering or death on an animal, usually a tame one, beyond necessity for normal discipline.
Can include neglect that is so monstrous (withholding food and water) that the animal has suffered, died or been put in imminent danger of death.
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18. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
“The Link”
Over the past decade, the link between animal abuse, child abuse, elder abuse and domestic violence has become clearer.
Numerous studies have found violent criminals and serial killers to be common perpetrators of animal abuse.
Since abusers aim to hurt anything victims hold dear, family pets are also popular targets.
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19. Research Proves It

20. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Research shows that
Domestic violence and child maltreatment often co-occur in the same family.
There is a correlation between violence toward humans and animals.
Animal abuse is a red flag for human abuse.
Violent criminals share a common history of brutal parental punishment and cruelty to animals.
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21. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
The Link Personified
Ted Bundy mutilated animals as a child.
Jeffrey Dahmer killed neighborhood pets, nailed frogs on trees and impaled the heads of dogs on sticks.
Albert DeSalvo, the Boston Strangler, trapped pets in crates and then shot them with a bow and arrow.
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (Columbine High School) both had histories of animal cruelty.
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22. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Pets and the Family
Pets are beaten or killed in order to coerce or intimidate the victim with the message, “You could be next.”
Batterers may coerce children into silence regarding sexual abuse with threats to kill pets.
Batterers engage in bestiality or force victims to engage in bestiality as a form of humiliation.
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23. Similarities between Animal and Human Abuse
Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Similarities between Animal and Human Abuse
Power and control; preying on those more vulnerable.
Risk of physical and psychological injury.
Unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, marks.
Behavior changes such as regression, relapse in training.
Failure-to-thrive, withdrawing, passive.
Hostile to others, untrusting.
Desperate to please anyone showing kindness.
May still show love for the abuser.
Running away.
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24. Working Together

25. Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
We Can Work Together. . .
By recognizing that many times a family is seen by multiple agencies.
First responders and investigators trained in cross-reporting and documentation procedures.
Investigators recognizing their unique position in breaking the cycle of violence.
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26. Module 1 Overview of the Link
Module 1. Overview and The Link
January 2008
Last Slide/Credits
Family Violence Protocol
Integrated Training for Law Enforcement, Social Services, and Advocates
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