Different Approaches to Collaboration: Domestic Violence and the Criminal Justice System
Alberta Integrated Threat & Risk Assessment Center (I-TRAC)
[ Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next Page ]
This guide contains general information only and is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, contact a lawyer. (PDF Version, 776 kb, PDF Help)
Sgt. Dellrae Sharpe
Threat Assessor
Aberta Integrated Threat and Risk Assessment Centre (I-TRAC)
April 11, 2011
Facts
- Between 2000-2006 in the US more than 8000 women – nearly twice as many as the 4,855 US soldiers and police officers, were stabbed, shot, strangled or beaten to death by their intimate partners.
- In Canada during that same time period more than 500 women, nearly FIVE TIMES as many as the 101 Canadian soldiers and police officers were killed, met the same fate.
- Citizens in both countries have voiced their alarm at the rising number of senseless deaths.
History
- According to Ontario Domestic Violence Death Reviews, most domestic violence deaths are predictable and preventable.
- In Canada, 74% of all spousal homicides or attempts the perpetrator had no prior arrest history for spousal abuse. (never came to the attention of police)
- Canadian statistics show that on average, 33 incidents of domestic violence has occurred before the first call or contact is made with police.
- On average, a Canadian women will attempt to leave the home 7 times, before doing so successfully.
What is I-TRAC?
- I-TRAC is a joint forces multi-disciplined unit that assesses threats and develops risk reduction plans for high risk domestic violence and stalking cases in the Province of Alberta.
- I-TRAC provides expert advice and training in threat assessment, domestic violence and stalking to police, government, and community agencies throughout the province.
- It is the first threat assessment unit in Canada to involve experts from various fields as well as multiple agencies who deal solely with relationship violence and stalking.
Why was I-TRAC created?
- I-TRAC was created as a result of a proposal made by a victim of one of the longest and most extreme stalking cases in Canada. i.e. Katherine Whitbread/Simon Gagnon
- She made a plea for a better approach to threat assessment in Alberta.
- Government met with police and over a three year period a diverse committee developed a business case that created I-TRAC.
- Jan 2002- at trial Gagnon was found not criminally responsible
- Currently in the Alberta Mental Hospital
- Yearly reviews
Diagnosis:- Paranoia
- Schizophrenia
- Erotomania
I-TRAC: A Joint Forces Multi-Disciplined Professional Team (ALERT)
- Director (Crown prosecutor)
- Assistant Director – ALERT Employee – Similar to OPS NCO
- Police Joint Forces Unit
- 4 RCMP Members
- 1 Calgary Police Service Member
- 1 Edmonton Police Service Member
- 1 Medicine Hat Police Service Member
- 1 Lethbridge Regional Police Service Member
- Child protection expert
- Consulting Family law expert
- Consulting psychologist and psychiatrist.
Threat Assessors Qualifications
Must have:
- experience & training investigating and assessing violence risk
- excellent written communication skills and good judgment
- Credible, trustworthy and objective
Our Threat Assessors complete a 2 year understudy program before being certified in threat assessment.
This certification mirrors the existing Ontario Provincial Police Threat Assessment Units understudy Program
I-TRAC: What do we do?
- The threat assessor provides police, courts, Correctional Services and Child and Youth Services with:
- Formal threat assessments and case management plans
- Recommendations regarding investigations, charges, court orders, victim safety requirements and strategies.
- Expert court testimony for purposes of bail and sentencing hearings, child custody and access hearings and guardianship
What is a Threat Assessment?
- Threat assessment is a relatively new science that assesses does not predict an individuals risk for future violence by identifying and analyzing known and demonstrated behaviour of an individual, including verbal and written communications as well as personal and situational indicators of that individual.
- Threat Assessments organize relevant risk enhancing and/or reducing factors that have been identified through science and research using standardized tools which can assist the courts in drawing conclusions relating to the violent risk an individual may pose.
Purpose of the Threat Assessment
- Primary investigators are better equipped to prioritize their cases in case management, officer safety and deployment of staff.
- Police, courts, Corrections and Children and Youth Service workers are fully informed of who they are dealing with and how they might better manage the risk.
- Criminal and family courts have access to the comprehensive known history of an individual and the level of risk posed.
Referrals to I-TRAC
- Police services
- Prosecutors
- Children and Youth Services
- Corrections
- Mental health
We require the active involvement of the police service of jurisdiction.
Potential Applications of I-TRAC Services
- Law Enforcement (Investigations, Charges, Bail, Proactive enforcement)
- Crown (Bail, Court, Sentence Recommendations)
- Courts – criminal, civil and family court
- Correctional Services (Offender management and treatment)
- Children and Youth Services (Safety planning, children exposed to violence)
- Coordination between service providers
- Expose officials to issues that they might not otherwise consider
Assistance to Frontline Police Officers
- Whether to seek detention at bail hearing
- Evidence at bail hearing
- Release conditions
- Case management
- Offender
- VSU
- Children and Youth Services
- Probation
Assistance to Crown Council
- Whether to seek detention at bail hearing;
- Evidence at bail hearing;
- Alerting Crown and court that a psychological assessment may be of value
- Evidence at sentencing
- Conditions of release/probation orders
Services not provided
In order to ensure the objectivity and integrity of the threat assessment process:
- I-TRAC is not a first response unit nor does it respond to crisis situations or crime scenes.
- I-TRAC does not conduct or manage primary investigations or meet with offenders, victims or witnesses.
Distribution of Threat Assessments
Completed threat assessments are distributed to:
- Requesting police service/RCMP
- Crown Prosecutor
- Children and Youth Services (when children are at risk)
- Corrections ( can share, not provide, information contained in the assessment with any agency they deem necessary to effectively manage the individual in the community).
NOTE: Authorization of release of information must be included as part of probation order.
The primary objective of our threat assessments are homicide prevention and/or risk reduction:
- Assessing risk
- Informing
- Managing
- Preventing
Contact
Sgt. Dellrae Sharpe
Threat Assessor
Alberta Integrated Threat & Risk Assessment Center (I-TRAC)
Phone: 403-529-8486
delsha@medicinehat.ca
[ Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next Page ]
