Managing Critical Tasks Through Policy--II - September 2001

The previous Policy in Action essay promoted the practice of identifying high-risk tasks, creating written guidance on them, training personnel intensively in how to handle high-risk tasks according to written guidance, and then reviewing and updating the guidance periodically. The essay offered a method of reviewing an agency's written or oral guidance on one high-risk topic, the use of force, and included a sample policy training outline for in-service use based on the Department of Criminal Justice Services sample directive on the use of force, General Order 2-6. The previous essay also suggested how to use both the checklist and the training outline. Click here to review the previous Policy in Action essay. Future essays will also provide checklists and policy training outlines for other high-risk topics.

Consider the following statements made by law-enforcement officers about written guidance on domestic violence:

• A mandatory-arrest policy seems to be working but to what degree we don't know. We need a complete evaluation of our policy.
• It's useless to mandate arrests at domestics. It doesn't solve anything and the family or household members go back to living together until the next time they fight among themselves.
• The amount of time it takes me to investigate a domestic violence complaint has gone up. I might spend two or more hours on one if I make an arrest. But I just look at it as if it were a burglary or a robbery: it's a crime and must be investigated.

A few years ago, Virginia changed its domestic violence laws in significant ways. Most importantly, the law now requires arrests when probable cause exists and the issuance of emergency protective orders. Further, the law requires every law-enforcement agency to have written policy to incorporate several elements. The Department of Criminal Justice Services sample directive on domestic violence, General Order 2-32, contains all information required by law and represents current professional practices. Even though the law changed over four years ago, many law-enforcement officers remain cautious in making arrests at domestic calls, and a few agencies reportedly still do not have the written policy required by law. The comments quoted above represent remarks that might be heard by officers in any agency. Each officer will have his or her attitude about how domestics ought to be handled and the wisdom of making arrests, but to the administrator, domestic violence presents a complex and difficult topic around which to build a comprehensive order. The aim of the order is to shape behavior in the field to observe a standard. Administrators must combine the standards of the profession, the requirements of the law, and the best interests of citizens and the agency in promoting written policy.

A written order is an outgrowth of the values, knowledge and judgement of the chief executive. These values are fundamental beliefs and practices that shape the standards of the agency. Only by defining performance expectations through written policy can the chief executive create accountability for performance. The DCJS sample directive defines performance expectations but the chief executive must also evaluate the effectiveness of the written order. Perhaps the best way to establish a quality-control procedure is to actively solicit comments on the performance of the agency from clients. Where domestic violence is concerned, the chief executive might ask whether officers provided the victim with a referral to a shelter, or perhaps transported the victim to one. Did the officer clearly explain how a protective order works? Did officers adequately warn the person on whom they served a protective order of the consequences of violating it?

Finally, executives must train officers on written policy frequently. Supervisors are often underused or ignored in the policy dissemination process. It is an absolute necessity to train supervisors at every level in the content and application of policy before it is issued: supervisors must have a consensus on the meaning and application of domestic violence policy first.

To comment on the Policy In Action topics or to request further information, send an e-mail to Tim Paul.

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