VAW Advocate Case Review CAPG Annual Conference - 2018 VAW Advocate Case Review implementing “The Philly Model” in Canada Sunny Marriner VACR Project Lead Executive Director Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre

The Best Kept Secret in Canada: SACs 1974: Independent, community-run, confidential centres for survivors of all sexual violence Function independently of the Criminal Justice System, hospitals, or institutional victim services Provide support, groups, crisis lines, accompaniment, public education, and advocacy See ANY survivor (95% unreported, 5 % reported – child sexual abuse, adult SA, rape, sexual harassment Dual goal of advocating for systemic change and equality rights under the Charter

45 YEARS OF REFORMS: WHAT HAVE WE DONE? REFORM EFFORTS AWARENESS: Media, Education INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY: Case-by-Case TRAINING OFFICERS: Person-by-Person COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES: Case-by-Case RESEARCH, REPORTS, WHITE PAPERS CONSULTATION: Describing the Problem RELATIONSHIP BUILDING: Individuals, tables 45 YEARS OF REFORMS: WHAT HAVE WE DONE? © Sunny Marriner. All Rights Reserved. Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre Contact sunny@orcc.net for permission.

Review of Efforts: What Does It Show? Individually-Driven, not Systemic Oversight mechanisms don’t match goals; only triggered when individuals have the strength and the will to complain (70-90% will not) Non-measurable – not tied to outcomes Work-Intensive without evaluation of effectiveness Relationship Dependent: When principals change advances can disappear Don’t Leverage Expertise Police = 5-10% cross-section: Frontline SACS = 100% cross-section Lack Independence Close relationships are important, but they also can stifle honest critique © Sunny Marriner. All Rights Reserved. Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre Contact sunny@orcc.net for permission. Sunny Marriner – Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre sunny@orcc.net

What Happened In Philly? 1989 – FBI Contacts Philly SVU about high unfounded rates  Philly Unfounded Rates drop from 50% to 18% 1999 – Philadelphia Enquirer Links Homicide to Uninvestigated Philly Rape Reports  Commissioner Timoney Orders Internal Review of Cases Within 6 yr S.O.L.  Determines over 50% of non-criminal/unfounded were rapes, 1/3 were other sex crimes 1999 – Commissioner Timoney asks local VAW Advocates to review files annually going forward  Women’s Law Project (local VAW legal Advocacy org)  Women Organized Against Rape (local Rape Crisis Centre)  Two Child Advocate Centres

Why is Philly Unique Among Case Reviews? 1. Right Material to Review 2. Right People to Review It Reliable outcomes require review of the same information the officer evaluated when they made their RPG decision Unredacted All victim/witness statements Officer Will Says/Occurrence Reports VAW subject matter experts from the home community who work directly with survivors Independent Non-institutional (advocate as well as service) Accountable directly to survivors © Sunny Marriner. All Rights Reserved. Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre Contact sunny@orcc.net for permission. 3. REVIEW IS ON-GOING (E.G. ANNUAL, QUARTERLY, BI-MONTHLY…)

VAW ADVOCATE CASE REVIEW (VACR): The Benefit Cycle More Charges, Fewer Perpetrators At Large Stronger Investigations --> Improved Prospect of Conviction On-going & Applied Training Measurable, Evidence-Based, Trackable Improved Collaboration Between Partners Improved Confidence in Police Systemic. Institutional Change VAW ADVOCATE CASE REVIEW (VACR): The Benefit Cycle © Sunny Marriner. All Rights Reserved. Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre Contact sunny@orcc.net for permission.

Improving Accountability in Institutional Responses to VAW 3 YEAR PROJECT 2017 - 2020 GOAL: To implement Philadelphia Model reviews in pilot communities across Canada Started with 4 communities/cities 1 year in we have nine pilots sites, and growing Expanded the goal to at least one city in every province/territory Improving Accountability in Institutional Responses to VAW © S. Marriner 2018 – ORCC

How Does it Work? REVIEW TEAMS: Approx. 6 people – each reviewer gets their own files FREQUENCY: Quarterly – reviewing cases not cleared by charge in previous quarter METHOD: Directly in RMS (Niche, Versadex) DURATION: Approximately 3 days FEEDBACK: Reviewers highlight individual cases with issues & trends observed OUTCOME: Operational feedback, rectification of problems early EMBEDDING: Becomes standard operating procedure (SOP) in sexual assaults

Part of the Investigative Chain Report Investigation Clearance Review © Sunny Marriner. All Rights Reserved. Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre Contact sunny@orcc.net for permission.

PILOT SITES….(so far…!) Barrie, ON Halton, ON Calgary, AB Stratford, ON Kingston, ON Ottawa, ON London, ON Timmins, ON Peterborough, ON Barrie, ON Halton, ON Calgary, AB

Communities on the way… Regina, SASK Hamilton, ON Sudbury, ON North Bay, ON Brantford, ON Community X, SASK Community Y, YT