AgdaPkt 2010-10-25 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

6.1 F Page 24 Grand Jury Response Page 7 I� victim. Again, this ensures that children from each jurisdiction in the county will be interviewed by a highly skilled interviewer. Twice a year, San Mateo County conducts a two-day Sexual Assault Training directed specifically at training faw enforcement officers and child welfare workers, but which is open to any professional in the county who works within the multi- disciplinary process. The result of this ongoing training is that new officers and child welfare workers are trained on San Mateo County Protocof guidelines and best practices, and victims throughout this County are provided with the same professional service. 2. Enforcement in San Nlateo Counfy has drasfically declined during fhe past 3% years wifh (a) the January 2007 el�minafion of coun�y-wide law enforcement coordination through SAFE, (b) the April 2007 elimination of the dedicated four person sexual offender investigafions unit in the Sherif�s �ffice, and (c) the for�hcoming elimination of �he dedicafed sexual offender unit in fhe County Probation Department. Response: Respondent is unable to respond to this conclusion as it is directed towards the San Mateo County Sheriff s and Probation Departments. 3. The registered sexua! offender populafion and fhe fofa/ sexual abuse crime rafe againsf chi�dren in San Mafeo Counfy drd not decline from 2004-2009. The Grand Jury believes the most Irkely explanation for fhe decline in Ke�ler Center examinations in light of the s�afic arrest rate is c�ue to a Iack of assigned personne! within fhe Sheriff's O€fice. Response: This conclusion is directed towards #he San Mateo County Sheriff's 4ffice. 4. While sophisticated tools are available to identify viola�ors of child pornography laws and to catch intemet sexua� predators, San Mateo County law enforcement resources are insu�cient to use fhese tools to pursue investigation of fhese criminals in a timely manner. Local pollce departments do nof have fhe specialized resources or the personnel to pursue fhe predators who are increasingly using fhe intemet. Previously answered in finding number 3 under "Use of Internet by Sexual Predators." 5. The relatively low sexual offender recidivism rate achieved by fhe County Probation Department is at risk due to reprioritized funding that wi�! eliminate its permanent, dedicated sexual offender unit.