SARTs should clearly define and understand the different roles and responsibilities of each partner, as well as their respective obligations regarding confidentiality, privilege, and discovery.17 Prosecutors must determine how information will be shared and ensure personnel will not be overtasked by the responsibilities associated with participating in these groups. This is important because where resources are scarce, even in the largest offices, staff may be assigned to multiple coordinated teams addressing co-occurring crimes (e.g., child abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, and gang-related crimes). There also must be a formal mechanism to ensure that information related to co-occurring crimes is shared.
The role and responsibilities of prosecutor’s office victim-witness personnel18 must be distinguished from those of community victim advocates assigned to each sexual assault case. Victim-witness professionals should work collaboratively with community-based advocates to respond to victim questions and appropriately share non-confidential information provided by victims. It is important to determine the extent to which any of this information may be discoverable.19
Law enforcement participation helps ensure cases are appropriately investigated and subject to prosecutorial review for possible charging. Create a protocol for joint review by law enforcement and prosecutors prior to any decision to “unfound” a report or decline to charge. Collaboration also enhances the ability to uncover and respond to co-occurring crimes, as successful collaborative responses include cross-training on indicators of such criminal behaviors.
In order to build a strong, evidence-based case, trainings and protocols should include the use of trauma-informed interviewing techniques and identification and preservation of evidence relating to the full scope of the offender’s criminal activity.
Other specialized units in police departments and prosecutor’s offices (e.g., domestic violence, human trafficking, gang, cybercrimes, or juvenile units) should coordinate resources and share intelligence, expertise, and strategy to improve their response to co-occurring crimes.
Collaboration with civil attorneys enables prosecutors to understand important aspects of civil practice, and the remedies available to victims of sexual violence (e.g., divorce/child custody, protection orders, tort claims, restitution, and representation of victim’s interests in criminal proceedings). If a victim seeks counsel, prosecutors should be open to coordination and communication with the victim’s attorney where appropriate and when such contact does not violate ethical considerations or advocate confidentiality or privilege.20
