To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Tyler S. Brown, Sheriff
Prepared By:
prepared
Travis Stewart, Captain, Investigations
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Subject:
title
Child Forensic Interviews in the 17th Judicial District
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Sheriff’s Office requests the Board of County Commissioners to authorize the Chair to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with Ralston House, a facility in Adams County dedicated to providing a safe place for child victims and witnesses to participate in investigations and receive access to treatment and other support. The MOU with Ralson House was heard before the BOCC at a Study Session on September 9, 2024.
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Background and Discussion: Arapahoe County has entered into a contract with the Town of Bennett to provide law enforcement services to and for the citizens it serves. As part Bennett is located in Adam’s County (17th Judicial District), it has been requested by the 17th J.D. DA’s office that the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office use Ralston House as the forensic interview facility for crimes involving child victims. Arapahoe County has a similar partnership with Sungate that Adam’s County has with Ralston House. Not only would the use of Ralston House help us to comply with the request of the 17th J.D., but it would be far more efficient to interview child victims/witnesses in a place that is in closer proximity to their homes than Sungate would likely be.
Alternatives: The alternative is to not authorize this request and potentially jeopardize our relationship with the 17th Judicial District and, by proxy, the Town of Bennett. As stated above, the only alternative to conducting these interviews would be Sungate which would take ACSO staff out of the Bennett service area for an extended amount of time and would also likely be very inconvenient for victims/witnesses.
Fiscal Impact: There is no fiscal impact associated with this MOU.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☐Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Concurrence: The Public Safety Bureau, Investigations Section Chain of Command, 17th Judicial District and the Town of Bennett support the use of this agreement.
Resolution: Attached is a copy of the draft resolution.