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<br /> <br />Policy & Procedure Page 1 of 8 <br /> <br />Lexington Police <br />Department <br />Subject: Victim/Witness Assistance <br /> <br /> <br />Policy Number: <br /> 55B Accreditation Standards: <br />Reference: 55.1.1; 55.1.3, 55.2.1; 55.2.2, 55.2.3; 55.2.4; <br />55.2.5 Effective Date: <br />9/1/11 <br /> New <br /> Revised 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 4.04, <br />“Victim/Witness Assistance.” <br /> <br />GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES <br /> <br />Police departments have traditionally been concerned with apprehending and <br />prosecuting offenders, sometimes overlooking victim or witness needs until such time <br />as they are required to appear in court. This oversight can be disheartening to <br />citizen/victims and their families and may result in what officers may perceive to be a <br />lack of cooperation. <br /> <br />This policy is designed to afford victims and witnesses with an appropriate level of <br />attention, whereby their concerns and needs are addressed, fostering a better <br />relationship between the police and the citizens served. This will help to ensure <br />successful prosecutions. <br /> <br />It is the policy of the Lexington Police Department that: <br /> <br />1. All employees of the Department treat any victim or witness of a crime <br />with fairness, compassion and dignity; and <br /> <br />2. The Department shall work in partnership with the District Attorney's <br />Office and its Victim/Witness Assistance Program; and any other <br />authorized victim/witness advocacy group. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />