Page 5 - Caddo DA Highlights and Achievements Booklet

SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (SVU) ESTABLISHMENT
On January 1, 2016, we established a Special Victims Unit (SVU) which handles domestic violence, child victim and rape cases. Domestic violence has been a special emphasis, and we have partnered with first responders, community partners, and the newly created Family Justice Center to fight domestic violence. In addition, we have more than doubled our Victims Assistance Unit which directly supports victims of violent crimes. Our Special Victims Units handles cases of domestic violence and sexual assault. From January 2019 to December 2019, the unit prosecuted and closed 135 cases. These numbers do not include the domestic violence and sexual assault cases that were referred to the five criminal sections for prosecution. From July 2019 to
December 2019, there were 53 felony sexual assault, 306 felony domestic violence, and 13 felony stalking cases – for a total of 372 felony-grade domestic violence and sexual assault cases that came through the unit and were referred for prosecution.
LOUISIANA VICTIMS RIGHTS LAW, HUMAN TRAFFICKING COURT
& “HANDLE WITH CARE” PROGRAM
For the first time at Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, we have implemented Louisiana Victims Rights Law, and assigned a Victims Advocate exclusively to that court. A Human Trafficking Court has been established for youth being sexually trafficked and a “Handle With Care” program for children found by law enforcement in a traumatizing event. We have also taken an aggressive lead in prosecuting both parents who do not supervise their children and parents who do not timely complete their case plans for reunification with their children, allowing children an option for adoption by loving foster families.
TRUANCY PROGRAM
Through the generous support of WILLIS KNIGHTON HEALTH SYSTEM CEO JAMES ELROD
Implementation of a new truancy program, through the generous support of Willis Knighton Health System CEO James Elrod was done in 2017. This truancy program works directly with school and the families of elementary school-aged children who are truant before the necessity of court process. This program has significantly increased school attendance and reduced the truancy cases filed against elementary aged children. The program has also decreased the number of elementary school-aged children that have to go to court for truancy from thousands per year before this administration, to 20 in 2019.
HEALTH SYSTEM