- Meeting Date:
- 02/09/2016
- Title:
- MOU with Cochise Family Advocacy Center
- Submitted By:
- Britt Hanson, County Attorney
- Department:
- County Attorney
Submitted for Signature:
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
or Basis for Support?:
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Background:
In the past, when forensic interview services and medical exams were needed for victims of sex crimes, law enforcement in Cochise County has employed outside agencies in Tucson to provide those services. As a result victims were transported a long distance at great expense and, particularly in child cases, often multiple times.
Recently, primarily through the efforts of Lori and Mike Rutherford, Cochise County now has a local agency to perform these forensic interviews and medical exams: the Cochise Family Advocacy Center in Sierra Vista also known as Lori’s Place.
This MOU sets forth the terms of the arrangement between the County, County Attorney and the Center. The costs are $250 for each forensic interview and $750 for each medical exam. These costs are equivalent to the statewide average and the same as currently charged by the Tucson facilities that are being used. Under state law, these are costs directly charged to the County. The protocol for payment will be that the County Attorney reviews the invoices and submits them to Finance for payment. This is the same as the current arrangement. The primary difference will be that the services are provided locally rather than out-of-county.
The County Attorney is looking forward to working with the Cochise Family Advocacy Center to ensure prompt justice for victims of these serious crimes.