November 30th 2024.
Response:
When a domestic violence incident occurs in San Mateo County, the standard procedure for law enforcement is similar to that of many other areas. Officers arrive at the scene, conduct an investigation, and may take action if necessary. They also offer to connect the survivors with a domestic violence hotline for assistance, if they choose to seek help.
However, a new program is being introduced in the county to provide additional support for domestic violence survivors. Trained domestic violence advocates will now accompany officers on domestic violence calls in three designated areas as part of a pilot program. The goal is to help survivors safely leave dangerous situations and access the necessary resources.
According to San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, this program has the potential to save lives. The county had experienced a surge in domestic violence-related homicides in 2023, with five women losing their lives. Karen Ferguson, CEO of Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA), the organization employing the advocates, shared that between 2010 and 2017, there were typically one to two domestic violence-related homicides per year. However, in 2021, there were five such killings, mirroring the previous year.
Corpus emphasized the importance of reaching survivors in a timely manner and providing them with the necessary support and resources. She explained that there is a small window of opportunity to do so, and the program aims to take advantage of that window to ensure that survivors do not feel alone and have the protection and assistance they need.
The program was developed in response to the rise in domestic violence-related homicides in San Mateo County. Supervisor Noelia Corzo mobilized a task force to address the issue, and Corpus drew inspiration from a successful program in Queensland, Australia. This led to the creation of the Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team, which will be piloted in the police departments of San Mateo and Daly City, as well as the sheriff's office branch in North Fair Oaks.
The pilot program will run for 30 months, with a ramp-up period of about six months, according to Ferguson. CORA is currently in the process of hiring advocates who speak multiple languages and have experience working with domestic violence survivors. They will be employed and supervised by CORA but will work closely with the police departments to learn from each other.
Ferguson explained that when a call is received, officers will first secure the scene, and then the co-response advocate will arrive to speak with the survivor and offer support resources. The advocate will also follow up the next day to provide ongoing assistance. The goal is to reach survivors as soon as possible and provide support during a critical time.
She also noted that there are often many factors involved in a survivor's decision to leave an abusive relationship, such as financial concerns, impact on children, and lack of employment. The program aims to address these concerns and provide survivors with access to CORA's services, including case management, legal and mental health services, emergency shelter, and long-term rental assistance. The advocates can also connect survivors with services offered by partner agencies.
Previously, police would refer survivors to CORA after an incident, but there were often challenges in connecting with them. Ferguson shared that advocates typically only have a 30% to 50% success rate with day-after outreach. However, with the co-responder model, advocates will be present at the scene, ensuring that all survivors have the opportunity to speak with them. This eliminates the need for phone tag and increases the chances of providing support and resources to survivors at the critical time when they need it most.
In cases where the call occurs outside of working hours, the program will work in conjunction with the Emergency Response Program, where police can connect survivors with a 24/7 CORA hotline.
Ferguson emphasized that the success of the program will be closely monitored, and the decision to expand it will be based on its impact. A research and evaluation consulting group will help develop metrics to measure the program's effectiveness. Initially, the focus will be on three key areas: the services used by survivors through the Emergency Response Program compared to those provided by the co-responder, the frequency of repeat offenders, and the impact on law enforcement's understanding of the advocate's perspective and vice versa.
Corpus expressed her excitement for the program's success and her hope to see it implemented in other law enforcement agencies and sheriff's offices. She reiterated that the primary goal is to save lives and help these families who are the victims of domestic violence.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
