TO: PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE &
STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
FROM: Anthony Mata
SUBJECT: GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
RESPONSE AND STRATEGY
ANNUAL REPORT
DATE: March 16, 2023
____________
Approved Date
REPLACEMENT
REASON FOR REPLACEMENT
In the original version of this memorandum, there were slight errors in the percentages listed in Tables 2.A and 3.A. This replacement memorandum corrects those errors.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the 2021-2022 annual report on the Police Department’s Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy, including detailed sexual assault crime statistics and trends, housing opportunities, and an update on the implementation of the Sexual Assault Bill of Rights.
BACKGROUND
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines sexual violence as “sexual activity when consent is not obtained or not freely given.” The CDC notes more than one in three women and nearly one in four men experience sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes.1 Sexual Assault (SA) is divided by the CDC into many categories.
Sexual Violence (SV), Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) are three categories which are commonly investigated by the San José Police Department (SJPD).
In the San José Police Department, the Sexual Assault Investigations Unit (SAIU) investigates incidences of sexual violence (referred to hereafter as “sexual assault,” consistent with the terminology used by the Department). In this report, the Department will highlight efforts related to the prevention, intervention, and enforcement of sexual assault by SAIU. In addition, this report follows up on various data and informational requests from the Public Safety, Finance and Strategic Support Committee related to the work of SAIU. 1 https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/fastfact.html PSFSS COMMITTEE: 03/16/2023
ITEM: (d)1.
3/16/2023
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
ANALYSIS
Sexual Assault Investigations Unit Overview
In San José, sexual assaults, intimate partner sexual assaults, and youth sexual assaults fall under the purview of SAIU. SAIU’s responsibilities include a range of sexual assault law violations.
The unit is housed at the San José Police Department’s main facility located at 201 W. Mission Street in San José.
The unit’s approach to sexual assault cases is to make an arrest in every situation where it is legally permissible and to ensure survivors have access to resources which may assist them through the legal and/or civil process. SAIU has an in-house YWCA Advocate, who assists survivors with services and provides the survivor with the resources and information needed to heal. Furthermore, SAIU works closely with the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) in familial youth cases. The unit also works closely with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) Sexual Assault Unit in referring cases for prosecution and supporting cases filed by the DAO’s office.
Today, SAIU is authorized to have 32 sworn and 6 civilian personnel. SAIU is currently staffed by 22 sworn and 6 civilian personnel. The current staffing level reflects new vacancies of 4 detectives and 1 sergeant as compared to 2022 (the 4 additional detective vacancies have brought filled detective positions from 20 in 2022 to 16 currently). The current filled staffing consists of the following:
• Sworn
o 1 Lieutenant
o 5 Sergeants
o 16 Detectives
• Civilian
o 1 Senior Office Specialist
o 1 Police Data Specialist II
o 1 Senior Analyst
o 1 Analyst I (Child Interview Center Coordinator)
o 2 Child Forensic Interviewers (Temporary City Employee) The make-up of SAIU is diverse: five (5) of the members are certified Spanish-language speakers, three (3) are certified Vietnamese-language speakers, and two (2) members speak Tagalog. Equally important to the languages spoken, SAIU has seven (7) female detectives, and two (2) female sergeants. Having a diverse workforce allows SAIU to communicate and build rapport with the survivors we serve.
The unit employs the best practices in sexual assault services and uses a multi-disciplinary approach to address sexual assault issues. In 2021-2022, in addition to the sworn and non-sworn personnel, SAIU continued to be staffed with an advocate from the YWCA and a representative from the Santa Clara County DFCS. The multi-disciplinary approach utilized by SAIU integrates effective investigation and support services to survivors of sexual assault in a safe and
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
friendly environment. The law enforcement component is committed, first and foremost, to the safety of the survivors of sexual assault. This is accomplished by enforcing appropriate criminal statutes, as well as the active referral of survivors to partner agencies within the unit for counseling services, safety planning, financial aid, shelter, and restraining order acquisition.
Furthermore, survivors are provided Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (SAFEs) and/or medical exams by specialized medical care providers at no cost.
Training is foundational to SAIU’s service model. SAIU detectives are required by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to attend the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation (ICI) on Sexual Assault. The course is 40 hours long.
The San José Police Department also requires SAIU detectives to attend a 40-hour Child Forensic Interview Training course and a 3-day interview and interrogation course. Additional courses are offered to detectives during their tenure; however, these additional courses are subject to budgetary constraints. Examples of these additional internal courses include TraumaInformed Care, Santa Clara County District Attorney Sexual Assault updates, surveillance and apprehension training, and field tactical conduct training.
Due to a retirement, the San Jose Police Academy asked SAIU for instructors to teach the Learning Domains (LD) related to sexual assault investigations (LD 9 – Crimes Against Children and LD 10 – Sex Crimes) to all new recruits. SAIU and SVU personnel assumed the responsibility of LDs 9 and 10, respectively, believing they can provide the requirements mandated by POST while incorporating best practices and emerging trends within the community. Having detectives assigned to SAIU and SVU teach the two LDs is viewed as a “win/win” scenario for both the community and the department, alike. New officers will be armed with the ability to conduct better interviews, write better reports, make appropriate advocacy referrals, and have a professional connection with the detectives who investigate these cases daily.
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
Crime Statistics and Trends
This section discusses key trends in case data.
Table 1 Count of Primary Offense reflecting the period from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2022, provides a breakdown of 8,886 reported primary offenses reported Calendar Year (CY) 2017 to 2022 by the various types of sex-related primary offenses listed. Overall, there was a
25.5% increase in sex offenses that were reported in San José from 2017 to 2022.
Many of the sex offenses show a sharp decline in CY 2020 – the year Shelter in Place orders were put into place due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, most crime categories saw a rebound in CY 2021. The total average year-to-year increase from 2017 to 2022 was 5.78% per year. Resultingly, the overall 25.5% increase from 2017 to 2022 may be due to a combination of factors that drive the increase
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
Table 1.A Count of Internal Case Status shows the Internal Status of the 9,733 cases reported from 2017 to 2022. SAIU submitted more cases to the District Attorney’s (DA) Office in 2022.
From 2017 to 2022, SAIU increased its submissions to the DA’s office by 105.3%. E-All Leads Exhausted increased by 639.3% in the same time frame, demonstrating that the new direction in case management, along with the audit and realignment of status K – Lack of Investigative Resources, initiated in 2019, was extremely beneficial.
INTERNAL STATUS 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 TOTAL % CHG 17 VS 22
DA SUBMISSIONS 532 563 682 798 958 1092 4625 105.3%
K - LACK OF INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES 583 637 535 4 1759 -100.0% E - ALL LEADS EXHAUSTED 61 59 64 163 436 451 1234 639.3% X - TRANSFERRED TO OTHER AGENCY 93 116 100 104 193 241 847 159.1% L - LAW ENFORCEMENT REJECT (INCLUDES CIVIL) 142 104 210 63 14 16 549 -88.7% N - NON-WORKER (NO LEADS) 58 24 5 41 16 40 184 -31.0%
H - VICTIM REQUESTED CLOSURE 2 40 110 11 1 164 NC
G - LACK OF VIC COOPERATION (ATTEMPTS MADE/NO CONTACT) 1 51 86 10 8 156 NC O - OPEN 6 122 128 NC
Q - ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION 11 14 14 1 3 4 47 -63.6%
P - PENDING LAB RESULTS 1 12 5 18 NC
W - JUVENILE NON-CRIMINAL REFERRAL 2 1 3 3 3 12 -100.0% B - RE-OPEN 1 2 5 8 400.0%
M - MISSING PERSON LOCATED (MP ONLY) 1 1 2 NC
TOTAL 1483 1522 1705 1373 1664 1986 9733 33.9%
TABLE 1.A: COUNT OF INTERNAL CASE STATUS
PERIOD: JANUARY 1, 2017 - DECEMBER 31, 2022
*NOTE: DA Submissions is inclusive of: DA REJECT, COMPLAINT FILED, SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW, JUV CRIM REF, CLOSED JUDICIAL NC - not calculable | please note that comparing small numbers may result in large percentage changes MONTH 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 TOTAL MO AVG
Jan 43 36 51 71 42 52 295 49
Feb 47 37 30 51 43 51 259 43
Mar 51 58 54 38 61 63 325 54
Apr 40 56 48 26 50 45 265 44
May 50 35 80 22 52 56 295 49
Jun 36 32 78 23 41 38 248 41
Jul 30 29 58 43 54 39 253 42
Aug 39 27 61 29 25 50 231 39
Sep 33 80 70 48 40 45 316 53
Oct 63 36 37 36 48 62 282 47
Nov 38 22 47 34 61 44 246 41
Dec 38 38 34 32 42 45 229 38
TOTAL 508 486 648 453 559 590 3244
6-YR
AVG
YR AVG 42 41 54 38 47 49 -- 541
TABLE 2
COUNT OF PRIMARY OFFENSE - CHILD MOLEST CATEGORY
ONLY
On average, more
incidents are
reported during the
school year than
summer and winter
break months
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
Table 2 Count of Primary Offense – Child Molest Category Only and Table 2.A Time Between Occurrence and Report Date provides a deeper analysis for cases where the Primary Offense is categorized as a Child Molest. The 3 offenses categorized as a Child Molest are:
1. 288(A) PC Lewd and Lascivious (L&L) with a minor under 14yrs
2. 647.6A1 PC Annoy/Molest Minor
3. 285 PC Incest
The monthly average in Table 2 shows that there are more incidents of child molest reported during months within the school year (September-May, except December) than summer and winter break months (June-Aug and December). Table 2.A shows that cases involving Child Molest are reported equally 0-10 days and 11 days or more after the incident occurred. In SAIU’s 2022 annual report, it was reported that more incidents of Child Molest were reported 11 days or more after the incident occurred from 2017-2021. Positive changes in 2022 indicate that more children are reporting within 0-10 days of incident occurrence.
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
Table 3 Count of Primary Offense – Rape Category Only and Table 3.A Time Between Occurrence and Report Date provides a deeper analysis for cases where the Primary Offense is categorized as a Rape. The 8 offenses categorized as a Rape are:
1. 261 PC Rape and Non-Investigative Reports (NIR)
2. 220 PC Rape Assault to Commit/Attempt
3. Domestic - 220 PC Rape Assault to Commit/Attempt
4. 289 PC Foreign Object Penetration
5. 288A(A) PC Oral Copulation
6. 286 PC Sodomy
7. Domestic – 261 PC Rape
8. 262(A)(1) PC Rape Spouse
The monthly average in Table 3 shows that there are more incidents of Rape reported during the months July – October. Table 3.A shows that almost 62.6% of cases involving Rape are reported within 10 days of the occurrence, with 35.6% being reported 11 days or after of the occurrence.
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
AGE 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 TOTAL
0 3 2 1 6
1 2 3 2 1 5 13
2 5 5 9 6 4 3 32
3 5 12 17 12 6 12 64
4 11 13 26 14 15 13 92
5 16 15 21 11 13 17 93
6 14 15 32 16 12 15 104
7 16 25 16 16 16 13 102
8 18 14 16 20 13 26 107
9 23 23 15 24 27 34 146
10 27 38 44 24 25 38 196
11 47 43 40 25 48 47 250
12 48 69 88 46 53 76 380
13 113 85 96 69 75 80 518
14 101 110 90 79 105 104 589
15 128 106 126 71 111 119 661
16 145 123 126 83 94 124 695
17 110 126 132 103 116 109 696
TOTAL 829 828 896 619 736 836 4744
TABLE 4.A COUNT AND HEATMAP OF AGE OF JUV
SURVIVORS AT TIME OF REPORT
PERIOD: JANUARY 1, 2017 - DECEMBER 31, 2022
*Note that there was no data (DOB) to calculate age for 77 Adult and Juv- Survivors
AGE 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 TOTAL
18-29 289 263 332 273 329 379 1865
30-39 138 132 146 175 185 235 1011
40-49 118 104 96 112 116 162 708
50-59 45 63 66 54 58 76 362
60+ 34 42 43 36 27 42 224
TOTAL 624 604 683 650 715 894 4170
TABLE 4.B COUNT AND HEATMAP OF AGE OF ADULT
SURVIVORS AT TIME OF REPORT
PERIOD: JANUARY 1, 2017 - DECEMBER 31, 2022
*Note that there was no data (DOB) to calculate age for 77 Adult and Juv- Survivors
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
As demonstrated by Table 4.A Count and Heatmap of Age of Juvenile Survivors at Time of Report and Table 4.B Count and Heatmap of Age of Adult Survivors at Time of Report, Survivors aged 12-17 (Adolescents) continue to be overrepresented. SAIU is continuing to work with the San José Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) to provide training to increase reporting and to raise awareness in the impacted communities. This is done by providing timely data (Age Range and Zip Code of Residence of survivors). Armed with the information, CPU Specialists can provide presentations in local schools, places of worship, businesses, and community forums in the languages preferred by the audience.
Table 5.A Top 20 Count and Heat Map of Zip Code of Juvenile and Adult Survivors, shows geographical areas impacted by pediatric and adolescent sexual assault. Juvenile survivors who reside in 95112 or 95122 appear to be the top two (2) zip codes in Table 5.A.
Table 6.A Count of Juvenile and Adult Survivor Ethnicity shows the total count and percentage breakdown of ethnicity as identified by survivors.
# ZIP CODE 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 TOTAL # ZIP CODE 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 TOTAL 1 95112 29 88 87 90 87 171 552 11 95136 8 30 42 31 31 53 195 2 95122 29 69 90 70 75 114 447 12 95148 3 33 23 27 40 46 172 3 95116 23 63 88 65 78 107 424 13 95124 11 43 24 26 26 35 165 4 95127 25 68 79 66 68 108 414 14 95117 10 24 18 25 37 49 163 5 95111 25 58 67 46 64 109 369 15 95121 5 29 32 23 26 44 159 6 95123 21 57 65 61 57 83 344 16 95128 8 30 30 24 23 44 159 7 95125 17 41 45 34 31 84 252 17 95133 4 17 14 23 22 24 104 8 95126 14 32 42 28 43 64 223 18 95120 7 16 26 14 18 18 99 9 95110 9 29 41 35 38 61 213 19 95132 4 15 25 12 14 29 99 10 95118 23 31 39 30 30 52 205 20 95008 5 15 13 13 23 19 88 TABLE 5.A TOP 20 COUNT AND HEAT MAP OF ZIP CODE OF JUV AND ADULT SURVIVORS PERIOD: JANUARY 1, 2017 - DECEMBER 31, 2022
ETHNICITY 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 TOTAL %
H-HISPANIC/LATIN/MEXICAN 319 772 938 727 846 1002 4604 54.3% W-CAUCASIAN 102 291 357 269 294 341 1654 19.5%
ASIAN* 46 167 166 169 190 206 944 11.1%
O-OTHER 56 113 132 147 149 207 804 9.5%
B-AFRICAN AMERICAN 21 54 88 66 84 98 411 4.8%
X-UNKNOWN 2 2 1 5 13 13 36 0.4%
I-AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKAN NATIVE 3 8 2 7 11 31 0.4%
TOTAL 546 1402 1690 1385 1583 1878 8484 100.0%
TABLE 6.A COUNT OF SURVIVOR (JUV AND ADULT) ETHNICITY
PERIOD: JANUARY 1, 2017 - DECEMBER 31, 2022
*Asian is inclusive of: V-Vietnamese, F-Filipino, A-Other Asian, Z-Asian Indian, C-Chinese, P-Pacific Islander, S-Samoan, U-Hawaiian, J-Japanese, D-Cambodian, K-Korean, L-Laotian, G-Guamanian
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
The Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community continues to be, seemingly, underrepresented (11.1% of Survivors) in the count of survivor ethnicity based on their census majority in the city of San José.
Housing Opportunities
The Housing Department with the County Office of Supportive Housing (OSH) in partnership with the Office of Gender-based Violence Prevention (OGBVP), continues to work together on addressing the housing and childcare needs of survivors in collaboration with victim service providers (VSPs). This area of work includes coordination with the Domestic Violence Advocacy Consortium (DVAC) and is focused on three areas. First, better integration of those who are placed on the confidential housing queue and the community housing queue. Second, helping VSPs navigate the housing development field to increase housing and childcare options for survivors. The Housing Department and OSH are also identifying immediate funding opportunities to expand housing and childcare. Last, developing a set of recommendations with DVAC that will enhance and expand housing programs to better serve survivors.
OSH and members of the DVAC have met monthly to discuss changes and improvements to the confidential queue for survivors who are seeking housing services. A smaller confidential queue workgroup is exploring legal and technological possibilities to improve the confidential queue process, with the goal of improving access for survivors while keeping them safe and protecting their confidential data. Issues under exploration include how to eliminate duplication of clients and services, what information can be shared among VSPs with a time-limited release of information, and exploring technological options for a shared database among VSPs that would comply with state and federal laws requiring the protection of survivor data. The workgroup is consulting with County legal counsel and technical assistance providers, as well as researching best practices and model programs in other jurisdictions to formulate recommendations and next steps.
While working on longer-term fixes to the confidential queue, OSH is also working with VSPs to address immediate challenges, including a process for reviewing the status of older assessments and ensuring that VSPs have a direct line to OSH staff for any questions about assessments, housing placements, or other issues that may arise. Staff from OSH and the Housing Department are also attending DVAC meetings on a quarterly basis to provide updates, discuss challenges, and brainstorm around housing opportunities for survivors.
The Housing Department and OSH have identified the State of California’s Homekey Program as an opportunity for VSP’s to work with local cities and/or the County to identify a suitable site to develop housing for survivors. The State budget provides $1.45 billion in 2022-2023 for Homekey. It is estimated that $1.3 billion will go towards Homekey Round 3 projects. The Housing Department and OSH have initiated conversations with partners to develop a strategy for Homekey Round 3, which is expected in early spring 2023. These discussions include new city partners as well as new service providers that are interested in applying. OSH is continuing conversations with VSPs to answer questions and help identify eligible properties that could be competitive for Homekey Round 3.
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
The workgroup has also discussed the inclusion of childcare in the development of new affordable and supportive housing. There are several factors that impact the feasibility of including childcare in new housing developments. Licensed childcare facilities must have sufficient dedicated indoor and outdoor space, designated parking and drop-off areas, and other requirements. Additional features of high-quality childcare are not required by Community Care Licensing, such as separate spaces for different ages, but are recognized as promoting a more positive environment. Including space for licensed childcare in new affordable and supportive housing would be most feasible in developments that include commercial and/or non-residential space.
The Housing Department provided a bonus scoring point to projects that include childcare in its 2021 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for affordable housing and awarded funding for two projects that include space for on-site childcare, as well as the Hub project, which includes space for child supervision while Hub participants attend classes or other activities. The NOFA also incentivized family housing by allocating points for developments that provided one or more bedrooms, and several developments for families were awarded funding.
The County is exploring a few options related to childcare. For example, OSH could promote the inclusion of childcare by modifying the County’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) guidelines to encourage the development of community-supporting facilities, including childcare, within housing developments to the extent that non-residential space is available and allowed. The County could also prioritize the consideration of childcare specifically as part of affordable and supportive housing developments located on County-owned land. Another option for promoting the expansion of childcare throughout the community is through affordable and supportive housing development that includes units that are set aside and designed for eligible participants who operate in-home licensed childcare. This approach may present challenges in matching participants who have an interest and/or established childcare business with specific affordable or supportive housing developments. As a next step, OSH could explore the feasibility of this option in future housing developments.
Finally, the Housing Department and OSH are coordinating with OGBVP and DVAC to reestablish the larger Housing Workgroup. This workgroup will focus on enhancing housing programs to better serve survivors and expanding housing options. The Housing Workgroup is expected to begin 2023 by defining its scope and setting a work plan for the calendar year with clear milestones and goals. The work will build upon the gaps analysis prepared by DVAC and presented to the County’s Children, Seniors, and Families Committee on August 25, 2022.
Sexual Assault Bill of Rights
On April 9, 2021, the City Council approved a memorandum authored by Councilmembers Sylvia Arenas, Magdalena Carrasco, Dev Davis, Maya Esparza, and Pam Foley that included the following direction:
Direct the City Manager to return to the PSFSS Committee with a report evaluating the City’s implementation of the Sexual Assault Bill of Rights as part of the Sexual Assault Response and Strategy Workplan and include community
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
advocate agency feedback including but not limited to Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence, and YWCA of Silicon Valley.
In response to this direction, SAIU personnel began a three-prong approach to respond to the listed request. The following three areas were addressed:
1. Create Applicable Duty Manual Sections – Status: Accomplished a. The following Duty Manual Sections were added to respond, specifically, to the councilmembers' direction:
i. L 6001.5 - Mandatory Reporting for Sexual Assault
ii. L 6009.7 - Notification of Sexual Assault Bill of Rights iii. L 6009.8 – Notification of Right to Have a Survivor Advocate and Support Person
2. Evaluate and Reformat Department Resource Cards – Status: Accomplished a. The Sexual Assault resource card was evaluated and suggestions from council, the mayor, and community partners were incorporated.
b. The English card was approved by ADA T. Harman.
c. The cards were translated into Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. d. The cards are printed.
3. Collaborate with Advocate and Community Partners – Status: Accomplished/On-Going a. SAIU personnel collaborated with Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence, and YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley to update the Sexual Assault resource card. In addition, YWCA personnel were included in the conversation to create the applicable Duty Manual sections.
It should be noted that the YWCA meets with SAIU leadership on a monthly basis and, continuously, provides the department with insight, suggestions, and support to further improve our ability to provide quality services to survivors of Sexual Assault. Lastly, SAIU personnel are members of the Santa Clara County SART Committee and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Santa Clara County where many of the listed community partners participate in collaboration.
Grant Awards
From March to October 2020, the SAIU conducted a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Audit of kits obtained prior to October 1, 2018, as part of the California Department of Justice’s nationwide Untested Sexual Assault Evidence Kits Report to the Legislature. SAIU found 713 kits in the Department’s possession were untested and sixteen (16) SART Kits were not tested due to being Non-Investigative Reports (NIR).
In May 2021, the SAIU Commander, the SAIU Crime & Intelligence Analyst, and the SJPD Fiscal Unit applied for two grants to test the untested kits. The Department has been awarded the following grants:
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
1. On October 6, 2021, the Department was notified of the $22,516 award United States Department of Justice. This grant is a “matching grant” therefore the total amount received is $45,032.
2. On December 16, 2021, the Department was notified of the $1,425,000 award, also from the Department of Justice.
SAIU personnel is utilizing the $1,470,032 to test the Department's entire backlog of untested SAFE Kits.
Challenges and Moving Forward
The San Jose Police Department was not awarded the Office of Violence Against Women grant, which funds SAIU’s In-House YWCA Advocate. A Budget Proposal was submitted requesting ongoing funding for the In-House Advocate, the proposal will be considered as part of the budget process for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year, in the context of the City’s overall fiscal condition and other departmental program priorities. Not having a full-time advocate assigned to SAIU would have an impact on our service model and the goal of providing timely advocacy to all survivors of Sexual Assault who choose advocacy.
In addition, SAIU and the Special Victims Unit (SVU) submitted a Budget Proposal to fund additional analysts specially assigned to the two units. As with the proposal above, it will be considered as part of the budget process for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year, in the context of the City’s overall fiscal condition and other departmental program priorities. Currently, lieutenants rely on one analyst to supply data to make data-informed decisions. Increasing the capacity will benefit survivors of Gender-Based Violence and increase our capacity to provide prevention and intervention.
SAIU will continue to partner with Crime Prevention Unit Specialists to provide Prevention and Intervention services to communities experiencing higher levels of abuse. It is always the goal of SAIU to increase reporting and to provide services to survivors of Sexual Assault.
SAIU personnel is continuing to work closely with all ethnic-based agencies (with an emphasis on the Asian service providers) to ensure that we have a more equitable approach to education and to intervention in those communities. We recognize that the reporting of sexual assault is, seemingly, underreported in Asian communities.
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
March 16, 2023
Subject: Gender-Based Violence Response and Strategy Annual Report
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, the City Manager’s Budget Office, and the Housing Department.
/s/
ANTHONY MATA
Chief of Police
For questions regarding the Sexual Assault Investigations Unit, please contact Lieutenant Ken Tran, at [email protected] or (408) 277-4102.