SEX ASSAULT
Police give advocate group access to files for allegations that didn’t lead to charges
Project allows advocate group access to police files
A pilot project intended to review sexual assault allegations made to police that didn’t result in charges has so far looked at a total of 77 cases in Regina.
Lisa Miller, executive director of the Regina Sexual Assault Centre, said her agency’s role in the project involves examining information provided by police and looking for ways to improve the existing process.
The cases scrutinized in the project — called the Violence Against Women Advocate Case Review, based on what is termed the Philadelphia Model — are those in which charges were ultimately not laid.
“Everybody was pretty clear about what the purpose of the police file reviews were, and that was to have individuals that have expertise in sexual violence ... look at police files and provide some feedback on where we think they could do better,” Miller said.
Regina Police Service Chief Evan Bray said the RPS was eager to participate in the project, which is being done throughout Canada.
“The ability to look at our investigations through their kind of qualified lens and give us pointers and tips and things that we can do almost from a more procedural justice standpoint, that would make the whole process better for those people that are survivors. That’s the goal,” he said.
While she was not yet able to speak to specific results, Miller said her organization has been able to delve into various cases and look for potential problems, including how investigators deal with complainants.
The project — a joint effort between the RPS and Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan (SASS) — laid out an objective set of criteria for reviewers to consider when reviewing files.
“Police have given us every piece of information that is attached to a file,” she said, explaining reviewers are provided with written statements, videotaped interviews, officers’ notes and other material.
“We’re looking at, were there delays in responding to reports,” Miller said. “In the interviews, we’re looking for language that can create some feelings of blame for a victim. And certainly there are some questions that need to be asked within the context of an investigation that can feel very blaming for victims, but we’re looking for an approach that understands how those questions are perceived by people.”
Miller said reviewers are also looking at how some complainants who might be more likely to be perceived as non-credible are dealt with by police.
“We’ve taken an especially close look at files where individuals who are racialized, who have maybe experienced mental health concerns, maybe are known to the police,” she said. “Are they, from start to finish, receiving the same investigation as someone that might be seen unfortunately as more credible or more believable?”
Miller said there were two review cycles, with the team ultimately coming together to discuss its findings and compile them into categories. They initially had a meeting planned for the end of March to go over their findings with police, but it was derailed by COVID -19.
“We want to give them what we see as trends in those files, what are some commonalities in those files,” she said.
Bray said police have evolved in training as more is learned about the nature of trauma and how it can impact victims’ reactions, memories and feelings of re-victimization during their dealings with police and the justice system. But he acknowledges there’s always more to learn and improve on, making voices from experts in the field welcome.
“The work that we did was to try and help our entire police service understand there’s a real benefit to this,” he said. “No. 1, we’re going to have better sexual assault investigations. We’re going to do a better job of helping victims and survivors in our community. And it gives us a chance to truly work with community partners who have long and lengthy lived experience helping survivors of sexual violence in our community in a way that will be really, I think, collaborative and innovative and make a meaningful difference.”
Miller said the process has gone well to date and felt the RPS has made efforts to be transparent.
“This represents an incredible opportunity to change what justice looks like for people that have experienced sexual violence ...,” she said. “Provided the police service is willing to receive that feedback with an open mind and want to see change in how those files are investigated, I think it’s an amazing opportunity.”
Opening up files to outside agencies isn’t something police do often, Bray said.
“I think it is a big step and I think it’s a necessary step,” he said. “When we talk about wanting to work with our community to be better and to provide professional and respectful service, to me, this is just a step in the right direction.”