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Toward Safety & Justice: Seattle-King County Response to Domestic Violence
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Prosecution Coordination through Co-location Project
The City of Seattle through its Human Services Department, Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault Prevention Division enters into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") as a
collaborative partner with the following agencies: King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office,
Auburn City Attorney's Office, Federal Way City Attorney's Office, and Renton City Attorney's
Office.
The above mentioned agencies have come together to collaborate and to make an application for
the Fiscal Year 2009 Grant to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders
Program ("Arrest Program").
The agencies have agreed to enter into a collaborative agreement in which the City of Seattle will
be the lead agency and named applicant and the other agencies will be partners in this
application.
The agencies desire to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding setting forth the services to
be provided by the collaborative.
The application prepared and approved by the collaborative is to be submitted to the Office on
Violence Against Women ("OVW") on or before January 15, 2009.
1. Description of Partner Agencies
City of Seattle, Human Services Department, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Prevention
Division works across all City departments to coordinate the City's response to domestic
violence, and is the Arrest Program applicant. The Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
Prevention Division is a lead agency on regional efforts to address victim safety and offender
accountability, improve coordination across systems, and support community-based agencies as
service providers.
King County PYOSecuting Attorney's Office, Domestic Violence Unit, established in 2000,
prosecutes misdemeanor domestic violence cases in unincorporated King County and all felony
domestic violence cases in the county as well as coordinates the county's protection orders for
domestic violence victims.
Auburn City Attorney's Office prosecutes misdemeanar domestic violence cases in the City of
Auburn, and coordinates with King County and other agencies with regard to repeat offenders.
Together with the City of Auburn Police Department's Victim Support Team, the Auburn City
Attorney's Office works to enhance the domestic violence services available to victims. Through
this program, team members help domestic violence victims develop personal safety plans, refer
victims to other resource networks, and help victims obtain protective orders. The City of
Auburn also has a Domestic Violence Task Force that meets monthly.
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Toward Safety & Justice: Seattle-King County Response to Domestic Violence
Federal Way City Attorney's Office has a history of working on domestic violence issues. In
1989 the City became involved with the Domestic Violence Community Coordinated Response
Team ("CCR") for the South King County area. The CCR established domestic violence
advocates/liaisons within the legal department in 1998. A full-time prosecutor dedicated strictly
to domestic violence was autharized in 2006. Additionally, the City Council enacted a
sentencing enhancement for strangulation during the commission of domestic violence crime,
which has subsequently been adopted by the State. The City Council also enhanced sentencing
for committing domestic violence in the presence of children.
Renton City Attorney's Office prosecutes misdemeanor domestic violence cases and coordinates
with King County and other agencies with regards to repeat offenders. The prosecutor's office
works with the police department in identifying repeat offenders, assisting with outstanding
warrants and witness notification. The City of Renton Police Department's Domestic Violence
Victim Advocate assists in helping domestic violence victims develop a personal safety plan,
refers to community based domestic violence programs and other resources, assists with
protective orders, and assists the victim during the court process. The City of Renton has a
Domestic Violence Task Force. The deputy prosecutors attend the Domestic Violence Task
Force meetings and attend briefings on the topic of domestic violence.
H. Project Summary
This Memorandum of Understanding represents a collaboration to strengthen and enhance safety
for victims of domestic violence by coordinating domestic violence prosecutions in King County
through vigorous case development, information sharing, plea negotiations, and case
prosecution.
III. History of Collaboration
For more than 10 years, the City of Seattle, Human Services Department, Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault Prevention Division has been working collaboratively with the King County
Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Likewise, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has
partnered with the cities of Auburn, Federal Way, and Renton. These agencies also have
extensive histories of working together as well on a variety of projects related to domestic
violence and other crimes in King County.
One example of the collaboration between the Seattle City Attorney's Office and the King
County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is the prosecution co-location project which has placed a
0.5 FTE felony prosecutor in the Seattle City Attorney's Office. The co-location of a county
felony prosecutor in the Seattle City Attorney's Office has proven incredibly successful at
increasing coordination between the jurisdictions. The success of this project is the reason for
expanding the project to three new cities in King County.
The city of Auburn collaborates with King County on a number of initiatives. First, City of
Auburn representatives work with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office on training for
prosecution and law enforcement county-wide. These trainings promote understanding of county
and municipal policies and protocols regarding domestic violence cases. An example of this was
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Toward Safety & Justice: Seattle-King County Response to Domestic Violence
in 2006 when the City of Auburn presented with King County at a conference on "Networking
and Information-Sharing on DV cases in King County." The City of Auburn also collaborates
with King County on the implementation of STOP Grant activities. A representative from the
City of Auburn sits on the VAWA STOP Grant Prosecution Advisory Board, which determines
county-wide STOP Grant activities related to the education of prosecutors, victim assistants and
the community about domestic violence.
The City of Federal Way also works collaboratively with King County Prosecuting Attorney's
Office. This collaboration began in 2005 and included cross training between the two
jurisdictions on the issue of strangulation, passage of an assault by strangulation municipal code,
and coordinated efforts to raise awareness of the issue of strangulation. The City of Federal Way
was a key partner with King County on the creation and passage of the felony assault by
strangulation statute in Washington. The City of Federal Way has also collaborated with King
County in multiple trainings to promote understanding of each agencies policies and protocols on
domestic violence.
The City of Renton is the third partner agency on this project, and similarly has a long history of
collaborating with King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Specifically, the City of Renton
collaborates with King County on implementation of STOP Grant activities. Two representatives
from Renton are members on the VAWA STOP Grant advisory board. One of the main
initiatives of this advisory board has been the creation of county-wide standardized reporting
forms far domestic violence cases. In addition to numerous in-kind contributions each year for
STOP Grant activities, the City of Renton is also paying for the Spanish translation of the
Domestic Violence Information and Resource Guide, which is currently used by 17 police
agencies in King County.
Through these collaborative relationships, the project partners, with City of Seattle taking the
lead on writing the application, were well prepared to respond to the FY09 Arrest Grant. This
project was designed to address needs in our community that the criminal justice partners have
identified.
IV. Development of the Application
The City of Seattle's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Division together with
the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office took the lead in facilitating the development of
the written proposal. Discussions with project partners were conducted via individual telephone
calls and email. Project partners provided the following assistance in developing the application:
• King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office - participated in preparatory discussions to
develop the project idea; coordinated contact and discussion with three municipal city
attorney's offices; provided material far the project narrative and budget; reviewed and
edited drafts of the proj ect narrative and firmly committed to support the proj ect.
• Auburn City Attorney's Office -participated in preparatory discussions to develop the
project idea and firmly committed to support the project.
• Federal Way City Attorney's Office -participated in preparatory discussions to develop
the project idea and firmly committed to support the project.
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Toward Safety & Justice: Seattle-King County Response to Domestic Violence
• Renton City Attorney's Office -participated in preparatory discussions to develop the
project idea and firmly committed to support the project.
These discussions, feedback provided by the collaborators, and their support led to the
development of the proposed project as reflected in the proposal narrative and agreed to in this
Memorandum of Understanding.
V. Roles and Responsibilities
The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will be responsible for the following duties and
responsibilities:
1. Hire and supervise a half-time Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the Criminal Division to
engage in filing review of domestic violence cases from the cities of Auburn, Federal
Way, and Renton. This Deputy Prosecuting Attorney will be based out of the King
County Regional Justice Center in south King County, and will spend one day per week
at each of the three city attorney's offices.
2. Provide assistance to the three city attorney's offices for the following purposes:
a. Assist and advise in the screening of domestic violence cases from the cities of
Auburn, Federal Way, and Renton and, if appropriate, steer potential felony and
crossover cases to the Domestic Violence unit of the King County Prosecutor's
Office. Rush file felony cases where required.
b. Coordinate and assist in the staffing and early plea negotiations of crossover
domestic violence cases between the Auburn, Federal Way, and Renton City
attorney's offices and the Domestic Violence unit of the King County Prosecutor's
Office to leverage and improve case dispositions.
c. Serve in the role of felony domestic violence advisor and provide case specific
advice and assistance on all manner of domestic violence prosecutions.
d. Advise and assist with the development and operation of high impact and serial
domestic violence offender prosecution in crossover cases.
e. Provide specialized domestic violence related training on felony prosecution and
filing and disposition standards to attorneys in the three city attorney's offices.
£ Give other unspecified domestic violence related legal assistance as required and
agreed to by both agencies.
3. Convene and facilitate any meetings related to this project.
4. Attend quarterly meetings of the grant implementation team.
5. Provide data for semi-annual progress reports, as mutually agreed upon, and as required
by the Department of Justice for this grant.
Auburn City Attorney's Office will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:
1. Assign a lead prosecutor to work with the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
2. Provide adequate work space for the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in its offices in the
Auburn City Hall or Auburn Justice Center to perform the functions identified above.
This will include a computerized work station, telephone, and other standard office
supplies, equipment, and furnishings.
3. Attend quarterly meetings of the grant implementation team.
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Toward Safety & Justice: Seattle-King County Response to Domestic Violence
4. Provide data for semi-annual progress reports due to the Department of Justice for this
grant.
Federal Way City Attorney's Office will be responsible for the following duties and
responsibilities:
1. Assign a lead prosecutor to work with the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
2. Provide adequate work space for the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in its offices in the
Federal Way City Hall or Justice Center to perform the functions identified above. This
will include a computerized work station, telephone, and other standard office supplies,
equipment, and furnishings.
3. Attend quarterly meetings of the grant implementation team.
4. Provide data for semi-annual progress reports due to the Department of Justice for this
grant.
Renton City Attorney's Office will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:
1. Assign a lead prosecutor to work with the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
2. Provide adequate work space for the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in its offices in the
Renton City Hall or Justice Center to perform the functions identified above. This will
include a computerized work station, telephone, and other standard office supplies,
equipment, and furnishings.
3. Attend quarterly meetings of the grant implementation team.
4. Provide data for semi-annual progress reports due to the Department of Justice for this
grant.
The City of Seattle, Human Services Department, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Prevention Division will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:
1. Contract with King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for the part-time Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney's salary, benefits and other expenses per the project budget;
2. Convene and facilitate the quarterly meetings of the grant implementation team;
3. Submit all required reports, records, and financial audits to the Department of Justice;
4. Provide all required copies of publications and materials produced under this grant to the
Department of Justice; and
5. Negotiate any necessary extensions or amendments with the Department of Justice.
The roles and responsibilities described above are contingent on City of Seattle receiving funds
requested for the project described in the OVW grant application. Responsibilities under this
Memorandum of Understanding would coincide with the grant period, anticipated to be October
1, 2009 through September 30, 2011.
VI. Planning and Development Team
Representatives of the planning and development team include:
Amy Heyden, a Planner with the City of Seattle's Human Services Department;
David Martin, Seniar Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and Chair of the King County
Prosecuting Attorney's Office Domestic Violence Unit;
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Toward Safety & Justice: Seattle-King County Response to Domestic Violence
Daniel Heid, City Attorney, and Steven Gross, Assistant City Attorney, City of Auburn;
Patricia Richardson, City Attorney, City of Federal Way; and
Larry Warren, City Attorney's Office, City of Renton.
These individuals will be responsible for developing and implementing the project activities as
described in the project narrative. These individuals, or their appointed representative, will meet
immediately following award of the grant to determine project start-up strategies and timeline,
and will subsequently meet regularly to monitor project implementation.
VII. Resources
A. City of Seattle Human Services Department will provide a portion of salary and benefits
for the grant program manager (Amy Heyden), office space, and supplies.
B. King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will provide office space, supplies, training
and supervision for the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
C. Auburn City Attorney's Office will provide adequate work space, as described above.
D. Federal Way City Attorney's Office will provide adequate work space, as described
above.
E. Renton City Attorney's Office will provide adequate work space, as described above.
VIII. Commitment
A. There is a firm commitment from each of the project partners to achieve the stated project
goals by working together. The collaboration service area is King County.
B. The partners agree to collaborate on a project to improve domestic violence victims'
access to the criminal legal system through prosecution co-location pursuant to the
program narrative of the grant application attached to this MOU.
C. Compensation for partners' contribution to this project will be provided as outlined in the
attached OVW budget detail worksheet.
IX. Approval
We, the undersigned, have read and agree with this MOU. Further, we have reviewed and
approve the portion of the proposed budget and project pertaining to the collaborative effort
described here.
Alan Painter, Acting Director
City of Seattle Human Services Department
Date:
Daniel T. Satterberg
King County Prosecuting Attorney
Date:
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Toward Safety & Justice: Seattle-King County Response to Domestic Violence
v
Danie B. Heid, City Attorney
City of Auburn q /
Date: ~
Patricia A. Richardson, City Attorney
City of Federal Way
Date:
Larry Warren, City Attorney
City of Renton
Date:
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