Laserfiche WebLink
Breadcrumb Navigation:
<br /> <br />Policy & Procedure Page 1 of 8 <br /> <br />Lexington Police <br />Department <br />Subject: Sexual Assault Investigation <br /> <br /> <br />Policy Number: <br /> 42I Accreditation Standards: <br />Reference: 82.1.1 Effective Date: <br />3/11/13 <br /> New <br /> Revised <br />Revision <br />Dates: <br />1/24/19 <br /> <br />By Order of: Mark J. Corr, Chief of Police <br /> <br /> The Municipal Police Institute, Inc. (MPI) is a private, nonprofit charitable affiliate of the <br />Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. MPI provides training and model policies and <br />procedures for police agencies. This policy is an edited version of MPI Policy 2.07 “Sexual <br />Assault Investigations.” <br /> <br />GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES <br /> <br />Sexual assaults are one of the most difficult crimes that police officers are called <br />upon to investigate. It is imperative that officers involved in this type of investigation <br />show the utmost compassion for the victim as well as possess an understanding of the <br />trauma the victim may have endured. An investigator possessing the delicate balance <br />of patience with and sympathy for a victim will be more apt to solicit the cooperation <br />needed from a victim necessary to successfully prosecute this crime. A skillful and <br />professional interview can provide the information necessary to apprehend the suspect <br />and the evidence necessary to obtain a subsequent conviction. <br /> <br />Officers should be knowledgeable of the "first complaint" exception to the <br />“hearsay” rule and its importance in rape and other sexual assault cases. The first <br />person told of a sexual assault by the victim may testify in court to the statements <br />concerning the sexual assault made to that person by the victim as well as why the <br />statements were made at that particular time.i <br /> <br />Because police officers and investigators often qualify as "first complaint" <br />witnesses, it is especially important for them to document every detail of the victim's <br />account of the attack so that the officer or investigator will be able to testify accurately <br />and effectively at any subsequent court proceeding. Qualified sexual assault <br />counselors, may not disclose certain information without written authorization from the <br />victim.ii <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />