Responding to Homicide and Shooting Scenes: A Review of Procedural Justice Practice in the US

RESEARCH REPORT Responding to Homicide and Shooting Scenes A Review of Procedural Justice Practice in the US Jesse Jannetta Anamika Dwivedi Fernando Rejón Susan Lee URBAN INSTITUTE URBAN INSTITUTE URBAN PEACE INSTITUTE URBAN PEACE INSTITUTE Sino Esthappan Mathew Lynch David Leitson URBAN INSTITUTE URBAN INSTITUTE URBAN INSTITUTE January 2019 JUSTICE POLICY CENTER ABOUT THE URBAN INSTITUTE The nonprofit Urban Institute is a leading research organization dedicated to developing evidence-based insights that improve people’s lives and strengthen communities. For 50 years, Urban has been the trusted source for rigorous analysis of complex social and economic issues; strategic advice to policymakers, philanthropists, and practitioners; and new, promising ideas that expand opportunities for all. Our work inspires effective decisions that advance fairness and enhance the well-being of people and places. ABOUT T HE URBAN PEACE INSTITUTE Urban Peace Institute (UPI), a project of Community Partners, develops and implements policy, practice and systems solutions to reduce violence, achieve safety, and improve community health so that families can thrive. UPI’s goal is that all members of all communities have the safety, opportunity and health they need to thrive. UPI uses innovative tools and strategies to strengthen social movements and achieve high impact policy change. Building on 15 years of successful track record in Los Angeles, UPI works with partners across the country to address community violence through the implementation of a comprehensive violence reduction strategy. Through advocacy for smart justice policies, systemic reform, provision of technical assistance, and training for law enforcement, gang intervention workers, and community and public sector leaders, UPI seeks to sustain community-specific strategies to increase safety. Copyright © January 2019. Urban Institute. Permission is granted for reproduction of this file, with attribution to the Urban Institute. Cover image by Tim Meko. Contents Acknowledgments v Responding to Homicide and Shooting Scenes 1 Common Observations and Issues with Procedurally Just Conduct at Shootings 2 Key Practice Themes 4 Developing an Overarching Philosophy for Interacting with the Community and Victims 5 Building PD Capacity to Interact Positively with Community 7 Training Officers in Key Concepts and Practices 8 Partnering with Community Organizations to Interact with Community Members at Shooting Scenes and Thereafter 8 Engaging Proactively and Broadly with the Community 10 Applying Procedural Justice Principles within the Department 11 Mobilizing Non-Law Enforcement Leaders to Be a Visible Presence with Community, Victims, and Families 12 Profiles of Practices from Select Police Departments 12 Chattanooga Police Department 12 Enhancing Law Enforcement’s Response to Victims (ELERV) 12 Chaplains Corps 14 Los Angeles Police Department 15 Relationship-Based Policing and the Community Safety Partnership 15 Triangle Protocol 16 Milwaukee Police Department 18 Community Outreach 18 Investigation 19 National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice 19 Procedural Justice Trainings 19 Philadelphia Police Department 21 Victim Services Policy 21 Partnering with Community Organizations 23 Providence Police Department 24 Collaborating with Community Organizations, Violence Reduction Initiatives, and Advisory Councils 24 Richmond (VA) Police Department 25 Rapid Engagement of Support in the Event of Trauma (RESET) 25 San Diego Police Department 26 Community Outreach Initiatives and Partnerships 26 IV CONTENTS Response at the Scene 26 About the Authors 28 Statement of Independence 29 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS V Acknowledgments This report was funded by the City of Oakland and commissioned by the Oakland Police Department. We are grateful to them and to all our funders, who make it possible for Urban to advance its mission. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders. Funders do not determine research findings or the insights and recommendations of Urban experts. Further information on the Urban Institute’s funding principles is available at urban.org/fundingprinciples. Responding to Homicide and Shooting Scenes This report presents findings a practice review conducted by the Urban Institute (Urban) and the Urban Peace Institute (UPI) under the “Oakland Procedural Justice Principles for Police Officers” cooperative agreement with the City of Oakland. This purpose of the practice review was to inform Oakland’s efforts to improve policies and practices related to the police department’s management, response, and activities at shooting and homicide scenes, and to develop and implement procedural justice and related trainings for proactive and investigative police units. This practice review complements the literature review conducted by our team, with a focus on two areas for