New Campaign Against Domestic Violence

New Campaign Against Domestic Violence

When a victim of domestic violence shows up in an emergency room or doctor’s office, the outward signs of abuse may not be visible. But their internal injuries could be life threatening, especially if they have been strangled.

A new outreach campaign, that includes resource kits and posters, is being distributed countywide to help health professionals better-recognize and report suspected domestic violence—especially strangulation. The campaign comes as prosecutors released new data showing the number of defendants charged with strangulation-related felony crimes has increased four-fold in the last six years. [TWEET THIS]

In line with the County of San Diego’s Live Well initiative, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (DA) and County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) rolled out the new San Diego County Health CARES campaign today. The initiative is providing training and resources to hospitals, colleges and university health centers, community clinics, medical and nursing schools, paramedics/EMT’s, professional health organizations and primary care settings throughout the county. The outreach includes posters that encourage victims of domestic violence to talk about it with their healthcare provider.

[WATCH THE ANNOUNCEMENT, LIVE STREAMED]

“Surveys of healthcare providers in our county show that screening rates for intimate-partner violence are low, often due to healthcare providers feeling uncomfortable or uncertain with the topic and how to best respond to these patients’ needs,” said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. “Our goal is to provide tools, training and information that can be incorporated into routine practices within the healthcare system—protecting victims and saving lives. The bottom line is: if you have experienced domestic violence or strangulation by a partner, talk with your healthcare provider right away.”

There were more than 17,000 domestic violence incidents reported to law enforcement in San Diego County last year. Data shows that providing patients with an opportunity to speak to a healthcare provider about domestic violence results in patients being four times more likely to access to domestic violence resources. Statistics show that in the past 22 years, 13 percent of domestic violence-related murders in San Diego County involved strangulation.

“Healthcare providers play a critical role in identifying domestic violence and strangulation victims,” said Palomar Health Forensic Health Services Director Michelle Shores. “We want healthcare workers in San Diego to know that our program is a resource available to them and the patient. Our highly trained forensic nurses conduct on-site medical evidentiary exams to document injury and collect evidence to be submitted to law enforcement.”

More than 500 kits, 16,000 wallet cards and brochures in multiple languages, and some 9,000 posters in English and Spanish are being distributed to roughly 60 healthcare-related locations across San Diego County. The outreach campaign also includes materials in, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Arabic. Items from the kit can also be downloaded electronically at www.SDCountyHealthCARES.org. In addition, 100 healthcare professionals from hospitals, family health centers, nursing and medical schools, and other healthcare sites will attend a special training session tomorrow in North County to kick-off the campaign.

San Diego County Health CARES encourages healthcare staff to:

Conduct screening for domestic violence

Assess for signs and symptoms of strangulation

Report suspicious injuries to law enforcement

Evaluation of the patient by a trained forensic examiner

Safety plan with the patient and connect them to resources

By state law, healthcare workers are mandated reporters of suspected abuse. Over the past year, the District Attorney’s Office has been reminding various mandated reporters in healthcare sites, schools and financial institutions about their responsibilities to report suspected physical, sexual, financial abuse and suspicious injuries.

In 2017, The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, local law enforcement officials and the San Diego City Attorney signed an agreement that outlines a coordinated community response on how to handle strangulation cases. The new Strangulation Protocol included a training video to teach law enforcement basic information about strangulation, such as the little amount of pressure it takes to cause significant damage. The DA’s Office files three times as many felony strangulation cases since the protocol was implemented.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Wednesday, October 16 is nationally-recognized as Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day. If you or someone you know is being abused by a current or former partner, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) for confidential support and assistance planning for safety. [TWEET THIS]

Office Manager Convicted of 51 Felony Counts in Massive Patient Referral Scam

Governor Signs DA-Supported Bill Clearing Convictions

An estimated eight million Californians have criminal convictions on their records that hamper their ability to find stable housing, obtain permanent employment or continue their education. Assembly Bill 1076, introduced by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and supported by San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan, addresses these issues head-on by proactively clearing the past criminal convictions and arrests of about 380,000 Californians currently incarcerated. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on Tuesday. [TWEET THIS]

AB 1076 would allow arrest and conviction record relief in an automated way that would not require any action from a petitioner. Although anyone could petition to have their past convictions cleared on their own, the amount of time and money required often prevents eligible people from doing so.

  • This bill would ask the California Department of Justice to create a database of all those who have served time or probation and may be eligible to have their records expunged.
  • Additionally, the Department of Justice would also generate an algorithm that would, on a monthly basis, go through qualifying records and search for those eligible to clear their past convictions and arrests.
  • Lastly, AB 1076 would automatically notify corresponding courthouses that they are no longer able to release the history of those who have had their records expunged to any private enterprise.

“If people can’t find a job or housing, they are more likely to continue committing crimes and find themselves back in the criminal justice system,” DA Summer Stephan said. “This law takes the proactive step of clearing hundreds of thousands of records and gives people who qualify an opportunity to start fresh with the reassurance that their past won’t hinder their future.”

Assemblymember Ting, who introduced the legislation, has been working with various allies across the state to pass this legislation.

“Everybody deserves a second chance,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting. “We must open doors for those facing housing and employment barriers and use available technology to clear arrest and criminal records for individuals already eligible for relief. There is a great cost to our economy and society when we shut out job-seeking workers looking for a better future.”

Not everyone would qualify for relief. For example, anyone who has violated their probation or who is registered as a sex offender would not be eligible for arrest and conviction relief under AB 1076. Only those who have been arrested or convicted of misdemeanors or non-violent offenses would be eligible. Furthermore, although the criminal record of those who qualify would be wiped in most private background-check agencies, it would not remove the record from law enforcement databases and the record would be revealed if the person applies for any government job.

The Survey of California Victims and Populations Affected by Mental Health, Substance Issues, and Convictions found that about 76% of all people with criminal convictions report difficulty in finding permanent housing, employment, or a driver’s license. A 2019 report released by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported that attempts to reduce inmate recidivism had failed for about 62% of inmates released in 2017 and 2018. AB 1076 would be a step forward in addressing California’s high recidivism rate and would allow those with criminal convictions better opportunities to find jobs and obtain homes after incarceration.

AB 1076 will take effect on January 1, 2021. This extended period of time will allow the Department of Justice to set up the automated system that would allow the criminal records to be cleared without the need of any individual petitions. [TWEET THIS]

Community of Hope Comes Together for Domestic Violence Victims

Community of Hope Comes Together for Domestic Violence Victims

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time for reflection on all that has been accomplished to prevent violence and abuse in our communities, and all that must still be done. Today, the District Attorney’s Office joined the San Diego Domestic Violence Council (SDDVC), county officials and other social service agencies together as a “Community of Hope” to provide resources, education, prevention and awareness of domestic violence to professionals and community members The event is the first of many to raise awareness throughout the month of October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

San Diego County has averaged 17,000 domestic violence incidents annually for the past 10 years from 2008 through 2018. In 2018, there were 17,513 domestic violence incidents reported to law enforcement in San Diego County, there were also 15 domestic violence homicide victims of which the suspect was a current or former intimate partner. There were an additional three homicide victims (e.g. family members, new boyfriend, bystander) that died during these domestic violence incidents and five offenders died by suicide. Last year, 2,643 defendants were charged for domestic violence crimes by the DA’s Office.

“Domestic violence not only harms the direct victim but also has a devastating ripple effect on children, families and communities.  This is why we must fight it together as a community united to break the cycle of violence,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “We are committed to collaborating with partners from a variety of fields to bring accountability through prosecution and bring hope through early prevention and intervention.”

Throughout this past year, the San Diego County DA’s Office served the SDDVC by coordinating training for hundreds of professionals in our county on domestic violence as well as other family violence topics such as mandated reporting, being trauma-informed and risk assessment.

“Together, we are helping to bring light to this issue and let those experiencing abuse know they are not alone,” said SDDVC President Jessica Yaffa. “There are so many resources in our county to help them. We want them to know, there is hope, if they reach out.”

At the event, a candlelight vigil ceremony was held to honor every victim of domestic violence homicide in 2018. Survivors of domestic violence also shared their stories.

“Many people in San Diego County encounter domestic violence on a daily basis – the best thing a person can do when they see domestic violence is say something,” said Kelsey Hamlett, who is a survivor of domestic violence. “Too many people have been taken by domestic violence. If we all ban together to stand up to domestic violence San Diego County can save lives.”

San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox presented the Live Well San Diego proclamation to the SDDVC during the event, which also included a resource fair for services to help survivors of domestic violence. Also at the event, Deputy District Attorney Claudia Grasso was named President for the San Diego Domestic Violence Council. Grasso is the Assistant Chief of the DA’s Family Protection Division. The SDDVC is a collaboration of a multitude of organizations and community members seeking to reduce and prevent domestic violence in our county, including County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency, the DA’s Office, the City Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department, and other law enforcement and social services agencies.

If you or someone you know is being abused by a current or former partner, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) for confidential support and assistance planning for safety.

Gavel. Medical Office Manager in Massive Insurance Fraud Sentenced

Pep Boys to Pay $3.7 Million for Violating Environmental Protection Laws

For more than three years, Pep Boys automotive stores in San Diego and across the state were routinely and illegally throwing automotive fluids, batteries, aerosol cans, electronic devices and other regulated hazardous waste in dumpsters destined for municipal landfills not authorized to accept hazardous waste, an undercover investigation found. During the same period – from April 2014 through November 2017 – Pep Boys also failed to shred customer records, which contained confidential information, before throwing the documents in the trash.

As a result of the investigation, The Pep Boys Manny Moe & Jack of California (Pep Boys) will pay $3.7 million to resolve allegations that the company violated state laws governing hazardous waste and hazardous materials. The investigation was led by the Environmental Protection Unit of the San Diego DA’s Office, along with investigators from other district attorney offices, and environmental regulators statewide.

“This settlement holds Pep Boys accountable for violating laws that are in place to protect the environment and the privacy of consumers,” DA Summer Stephan said. “These types of investigations and settlements are a reminder to corporations that they have a responsibility to be a good steward to our environment or face consequences.”

Today’s announcement is in conjunction with multiple district attorney offices across the state including Alameda, Kern, Orange, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Ventura and Yolo Counties.

Pep Boys is an automotive service retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts, accessories, and engine additives in North America. In California it owns or operates approximately 151 retail facilities and a distribution center. There are 14 Pep Boys facilities in San Diego County.

During the investigation, investigators and environmental regulators conducted a series of undercover inspections of waste bins originating at 19 separate Pep Boys facilities. These inspections found numerous instances of unlawful disposal of hazardous waste and violations of laws protecting confidential consumer information.

When Pep Boys officials were notified by the prosecutors of the unlawful disposals, they fully cooperated and quickly responded by enhancing company policies and procedures to eliminate improper disposal of hazardous waste products in California and to protect confidential customer information. Stores are required to properly manage hazardous waste and to retain their waste in segregated, labeled containers to minimize the risk of exposure to employees and customers and to ensure that incompatible waste does not combine to cause dangerous chemical reactions. Hazardous waste produced by California Pep Boys stores through damage, spills and returns is being collected by state-registered haulers, taken to proper disposal facilities and properly documented and accounted for.

The settlement requires a monetary payment of $3.7 million, which consists of $1.82 million for civil penalties, $260,000 for supplemental environmental projects and $425,000 to reimburse investigative and enforcement costs. Of the total, the San Diego DA’s Office will receive $168,000 and San Diego County Department of Environmental Health will receive $21,000. Pep Boys gets a credit of $1.2 million against the penalties if it undertakes at least $2.4 million in environmental enhancement work not required by law. In addition, the settlement includes provisions requiring Pep Boys to undergo a trash receptacle audit to ensure hazardous waste and confidential consumer information is properly disposed of at all facilities. The company must also comply with 23 injunctive requirements to comply with environmental protection and confidential consumer information protection laws.

DA Releases Update on Rape Kit Testing

DA Releases Update on Rape Kit Testing

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office announced today that 1,692 untested sexual assault evidence kits from 12 police agencies across the county have been sent to an independent lab for testing over the past 17 months. Lab results have come back from 1,344 of the kits which are now in the process of being uploaded into the FBI’s national CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) database.

Reducing the countywide backlog of untested sexual assault kits (SAKs) has been a priority of DA Summer Stephan since taking office. In April of last year, DA Stephan announced her office had identified funding and retained Bode Cellmark Forensics of Lorton, Virginia to begin the project. To date, $1,108,545 has been spent on the testing. Sheriff Bill Gore and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department are key partners in the project. The Sheriff’s Department has been instrumental in identifying, preparing and delivering the kits for testing.

The DA’s Office is reviewing the results from the CODIS uploads which could lead to new investigations. Early results from the testing revealed that about 40% of the kits contained DNA foreign to the victim. The DA’s Office estimates there are only about 100 remaining evidence kits from the police agencies that are participating which still need to be sent for testing.. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department submitted the largest number of kits for testing, followed by Escondido PD and Oceanside PD. The testing does not include kits from SDPD, which is conducting its own testing in-house at their crime lab.

“I’m proud of the excellent progress we’ve made on getting these kits tested, which may contain powerful evidence that can speak on behalf of victims and prevent a future assault,” said DA Stephan. “Rape cases leave victims with deep emotional and physical wounds. I’m committed to doing everything we can to solve their cases and I appreciate the dedication and hard work of all our county partners to get this project completed.”

Over the past year, the District Attorney’s Office has been providing ongoing updates at community events about the testing progress for various partners and stakeholders, including the Center for Community Solutions (CCS) late last year and the San Diego area chapter of the National Organization for Women in June.

In addition to the testing project, the DA’s Office also strongly supported Senate Bill 22, known as the Sexual Assault Victims’ DNA Bill of Rights, which passed the legislature earlier this month and awaits Governor Newsom’s signature. The bill sets firm timelines for all law enforcement agencies submit sexual assault kits to crime labs and firm timelines for crime labs to test the kits. In her letter of support to the governor, DA Summer wrote, “Having untested SAKs, sitting on shelves collecting dust, is no longer acceptable.”

The Center for Community Solutions, which has a mission to end relationship and sexual violence by being a catalyst for caring communities and social justice, supported the DA’s initiative when it was first announced. “It’s important to all of us to have the backlog of rape kits tested in cases where survivors have provided consent for the testing,”  said Verna Griffin-Tabor, CEO and Executive Director of the Center for Community Solutions.

The Joyful Heart Foundation, which is working to have all rape kits tested in the U.S., has also strongly supported San Diego’s testing initiative and the County’s focus on delivering justice for victims.

Every 98 seconds, someone is sexually assaulted in the United States. It takes a tremendous amount of courage for survivors of sexual assaults to come forward. Victims in San Diego County can be assured that law enforcement is invested in helping them achieve justice and hopefully a sense of healing after enduring such a traumatic experience.

EN ESPAÑOL

How to Report Embezzlement Crimes

How to Report Embezzlement Crimes

Over the past year, the DA’s Office has filed more than 100 felony cases involving employee theft or embezzlement in San Diego County.  Unfortunately, employee theft occurs more often than one would like to believe and many times the theft is committed by the person charged with keeping the financial records for the company or preparing the payroll.  Many cases go unreported because some businesses are unsure as to how to proceed or how to organize the information to present to law enforcement.

To help potential victims prepare the documents and information necessary to successfully report embezzlement to law enforcement, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Division has added a page to its public website that contains an informational video, a checklist and complaint organizational outline.

“We’re looking out for the business community and embezzlement has serious consequences for business owners and managers because they not only involve a loss of money to businesses, they also constitute a breach of trust,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “To pursue justice in these cases, we rely heavily on the victims’ ability to provide sufficient documentation and we hope that this new webpage will serve as a step-by-step guide for people to understand what they need to do to enable law enforcement and prosecutors to determine if an embezzlement crime occurred and whether it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The DA’s office has prosecuted cases where the employee merely had an extra payroll paycheck deposited into their own bank account each week for a year.  In another case, an employee who was in charge of approving other employee credit card expenses ended up using the business credit card herself to pay her own personal expenses, including her own child’s college tuition and orthodontia work.  Unfortunately, no one was watching the person in charge of the credit card use and her activities were not discovered until she was terminated after racking up over $150,000 in unauthorized charges.  In most cases, there is a true sense of betrayal in embezzlement cases since the employers or owners are shocked to learn that their trusted employee deceived them while pretending to be a loyal co-worker— and many times even a friend.

It is necessary for investigators, prosecutors, the judge and possibly a jury to understand what occurred. They rely primarily on the facts and documents provided by the business that was victimized, which is why documenting and organizing the material is critical.

The public can now visit this website link, where they will find the resources to help them understand what they need to submit to their local law enforcement agency when they report an embezzlement crime. While submitting the appropriate records and information is critical to reviewing potential embezzlement and white collar crimes, submission to the DA’s Office does not guarantee a case will be filed.  Prosecutors must still carefully review the materials and conduct further investigation to determine if potential criminal charges can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

DA Cold Case Unit Honored. (Pictured: DA Summer Stephan, DDA Valerie Summers, CDAIA President Brent Westwood)

DA Cold Case Unit Honored

On January 9, 2011, Darryl Hunter and his adult son Keith Butler were shot and killed after an altercation with a man at the corner of 30th and C Streets in the city of San Diego. Hunter was shot four times and Butler was shot in the back while fleeing the scene. The San Diego Police Department identified Marlon Johnson as the main suspect but he eluded the police and fled California before being interviewed.

In 2016, SDPD presented the case to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Cold Case Unit, and shortly afterwards Johnson was located in Arkansas, was arrested and extradited to San Diego. The case was handled by Deputy District Attorney Valerie Summers and District Attorney Investigator Sandra Oplinger. However, the complicated prosecution resulted in two mistrials with hung juries; it was not until the third trial in January 2019 when a jury found Johnson guilty of second-degree murder for Butler and Hunter and guilty of shooting at a vehicle.

On Thursday, the California District Attorney Investigators Association recognized DAI Oplinger as DA Investigator of the Year and DDA Summers as Prosecutor of the Year for their hard work and perseverance in delivering justice this case. The awards were presented during CDAIA’s annual convention which was held this week in San Diego. [TWEET THIS]

“Valerie Summers and Sandra Oplinger exemplify the incredible work of our Cold Case Unit, which takes on the tough mission of solving cases that have often hit a dead end,” said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. “They both refused to give up and ultimately delivered justice for the victims’ family.”

Prior to the start of the first trial, DAI Oplinger identified another vehicle that had been part of the original crime scene and helped identify the position of the shooter at the time of the murders. There were more than 80 witnesses called to testify in all three trials, and DDA Summers met with all of them in preparation for the trial, some of which were initially hesitant to testify.

Each year, the California District Attorney Investigators’ Association presents the Joe McClure Investigator of the Year Award to an investigator to recognize outstanding achievement by a District Attorney Investigator as voted upon by the Association. In 2004, the CDAIA began recognizing California Prosecutors with the annual CDAIA Prosecutor of the Year Award to acknowledge the exemplary work by the nominee in the pursuit of justice and promoting and maintaining a positive working relationship with Investigators from their office for that year. [TWEET THIS]

New Program Steers Low-Level Offenders Away from Convictions and Jail

New Program Steers Low-Level Offenders Away from Convictions and Jail

Getting a second chance is a powerful opportunity that can change the course of someone’s life. Nowhere is that truer than in the criminal justice system, which is why District Attorney Summer Stephan has set in motion a new program that’s providing those second chances for low-level, non-violent offenders in an effort to change lives, provide services and promote public safety. [TWEET THIS]

[WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THIS NEW PROGRAM, HERE]

Under the DA’s Community Justice Initiative, instead of being prosecuted for the low-level crime, the District Attorney offers another option: agree to 12 hours of cognitive behavioral therapy and four hours of volunteer work in the community. After completing the program, the case is dismissed and the individual’s record is sealed. Only non-violent and non-sexual offenses qualify for the program. If someone is caught shoplifting small items, for example, and it is his or her first run-in with the law, that person would normally face a misdemeanor conviction, a fine and up to one year in jail. Under the CJI program, they’re diverted away from the system and given a chance to clear their record.

“This common-sense program holds people accountable for their actions, but steers them away from incarceration and onto a healthy path,” District Attorney Summer Stephan said. “It provides a second chance and ultimately builds safer communities.”

The program initially launched in the South Bay before being expanded to other areas of the county. During the time the program has been up and running, there have been about 586 participants, of which 210 individuals have successfully had their cases dismissed; 290 people are currently going through the program. Of the total participants so far, 86 failed the program and were sentenced. Some 74 percent of the participants are new to the justice system and have never been charged with a crime previously. Of the participants who successfully completed the program and had their case dismissed, only 2 percent have a new case filed against them.[TWEET THIS]

Community Justice Initiative Graphic

The most common offenses in the program, which has been in operation for one year, are cases such as shoplifting, non-DUI traffic offenses, or vandalism. Crimes that do not qualify include driving under the influence, sex offences, child and elder abuse or hate crimes.

Prosecutors offer the program at an individual’s first court appearance, generally at arraignment or the first readiness conference, if the person has not participated in the program before. If the program is accepted, the participant enters a guilty plea but is not sentenced immediately. Instead, a sentencing date is set for 150 days later.

Participants have 120 days to complete the program’s basic requirements and any additional obligations such as paying victim restitution. As part of the requirements, participants must attend cognitive behavioral therapy classes. The idea is to address to root cause of their crime and provide people with the tools and ability to make better choices, reducing the likelihood of returning to the criminal justice system.

If the conditions are met within 120 days, the case is dismissed (including the guilty plea) and there are no more court appearances. If participants have not fulfilled the obligations within 120 days, they must return to court on their sentencing date.

[WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THIS NEW PROGRAM, HERE]

When developing the program, the District Attorney’s Office collaborated with its justice system partners including the Office of the San Diego County Public Defender, and other community stakeholders.

“The CJI process includes a cognitive behavioral therapy component, which helps our clients gain insight into underlying issues which may have led to their criminal behavior,” Public Defender Randy Mize said. “This therapy redirects such behaviors and has a proven track record of positive outcomes.  CJI recognizes that a wrong has been committed and holds offenders accountable without overly burdening their lives with a criminal conviction.”

The Community Justice Initiative has been designed to address criminal thinking through cognitive behavioral therapy.

“We offer participants critical thinking skills that will lead them to better decision making and at the same time help them remain law abiding citizens,” said Laura Soto, Director of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adult Justice Programs with SAY San Diego and a licensed criminal social worker.

The community also reaps benefits through the volunteer work that participants perform at any non-profit of their choice. And in cases where victim restitution is involved, participants agree to pay the restitution in whole, which means crime victims have a greater likelihood of being repaid more quickly.

The Community Justice Initiative is in line with an evolving approach to criminal justice system in a way that is responsible and still protects public safety. [TWEET THIS]

“Our goal is to keep people who have never been in the criminal justice system from starting down a criminal path,” DA Stephan said. “Petty crimes can eventually lead to more serious crimes and we want to interrupt that cycle by addressing the underlying causes sooner rather than later.”

[WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THIS NEW PROGRAM, HERE]

Public invited to East County Economic Crimes Forum

Stopping Cybercriminals

Members of the public are welcome to attend the first-ever Economic Crimes Forum in East County hosted by seven chambers of commerce to learn how scams and cyber-crimes impact businesses and the community. At the event, experts from the District Attorney’s Office will teach attendees how to protect themselves and their businesses from becoming victims of fraud and other economic-related crimes.

“Crime prevention through partnership with the community we serve is an important part of our mission at the DA’s Office,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “We have an entire division dedicated to prosecuting economic crimes and holding the perpetrators accountable, but our prosecutors and investigators are also using their expertise to stop these crimes from happening in the first place and to protect the business community.”

The seven chambers of commerce hosting this event are the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, the East County Economic Development Council, the Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce, the Alpine Chamber of Commerce, and the Santee Chamber of Commerce.

The East County Economic Crimes Forum is open to the public and will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Grossmont College Theatre Room 26-220, located at 8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon, CA 92020. Anyone interested in attending should RSVP to Kathy Kassel: info@lakesidechamber.org or 619-561-1031.

An Inside Look Into the Criminal Justice System: Citizens' Academy

An Inside Look Into the Criminal Justice System

Have you ever wondered how investigators use genealogy to crack cold homicide cases? Or what kind of training police officers get to de-escalate dangerous situations? Beginning in October, the public will get the chance for a behind-the-scenes look into how our local law enforcement agencies work. From the prosecution of opioid dealers to financial crimes against the elderly, the District Attorney’s Office and the San Diego Sheriff’s Department are sponsoring a Citizens’ Academy to help the general public better understand the criminal justice system in San Diego County.  The program is free and lasts six weeks starting Tuesday, October 1st, and each Tuesday night through November 5th. [TWEET THIS]

Citizens Academy 2019 Flyer

“The response to our Citizen Academies has been overwhelmingly positive each time we hold one,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “It’s a unique opportunity for people to get an inside-look at what we do by interacting with some of the incredible prosecutors in our office and hearing directly from subject matter experts in other law enforcement agencies from our region.”

A diverse group of speakers from the DA’s Office and the S.D. Sheriff’s Department will discuss topics ranging from catching a killer in a cold case to the opioid epidemic and financial elder abuse. The Sheriff’s Department will also cover topics including the evolving use of force law and how de-escalation is being used in the effort to reduce officer-involved shootings. The course includes special access to the Sheriff’s Department weapons simulator exercise.

Sheriff Logo

The Citizens’ Academy begins Tuesday, October 1st and ends Tuesday, November 5. Classes will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for six consecutive weeks at the County Operations Center in Kearny Mesa.

More information and the required application are available at www.sdcda.org/office/citizensacademy. Space is limited. Members of the public wishing to attend the academy should apply by Monday, September 9, 2019. [TWEET THIS]