Joint Investigative Response Teams
Joint Investigation Response Teams (JIRTs) are made up of DoCS, NSW Police and NSW Health professionals who undertake joint investigation of child protection matters.
Joint investigations link the risk assessment and protective interventions of DoCS with the criminal investigation conducted by Police.
DoCS and Police have an equal partnership and share responsibility for the operation of JIRTs. There are nine metropolitan JIRTs where police and DoCS officers work together in the same offices. In rural areas JIRTs are not usually co-located, but police and DoCS officers still work collaboratively.
NSW Department of Health provides medical examination, counselling and therapeutic services to children or young people and their non-offending parents or carers, when required.
By working together as a JIRT, DoCS, Police and Health officers provide a more effective investigative process and better understand each agency’s role so the best outcome for the child or young person is achieved.
why are JIRTs required?
Child protection is a community and government responsibility. Close links between child protection agencies ensure a more coordinated and timely service. Children, young people and families experience better outcomes from joint investigation.
Joint investigation aims to:
- provide a timely and comprehensive investigative process, which minimises delay and promotes information exchange between relevant agencies
- conduct investigative interviews in an environment that is focussed on the child or young person and promotes their participation
- enhance the standard of briefs of evidence presented to Court jurisdictions and proceed with charging offenders where appropriate
- ensure timely access to care and support services throughout the joint investigation process
- ensure immediate referral to crisis counselling
- minimise the number of investigative interviews conducted
- use protective intervention to ensure the safety of children and young people
- assess the individual needs of children, young people and families
- support the non-offending parent or carer
- identify and prosecute offenders.
what is the process for involving JIRTs?
See full details in the JIRT Policy and Procedures Manual.
Referrals to JIRT can only be made through DoCS Helpline or a Community Services Centre (CSC).
Joint investigation occurs when a DoCS Child Protection Caseworker (CPC) and Police officer investigate a report of child abuse that meets the JIRT criteria – mostly when there is a possibility the abuse constitutes a criminal offence.
The process includes completing a risk assessment and determining the need for Children’s Court action and/or criminal charges.
referral to metropolitan/outer metropolitan JIRTs
- DoCS Helpline makes a decision based on initial assessment on whether to make a referral to JIRT. Consultation with JIRT is not required
- DoCS manages joint investigation referrals and ensure referrals are made within two hours
- DoCS Helpline phones JIRT within two hours advising that a report will be sent through. If the matter is urgent the JIRT is contacted immediately
- JIRT checks the DoCS client information system (KiDS) to establish if any reports have been transferred to their unit
- JIRT decides if the referral is accepted or rejected
- when the referral is accepted or rejected, JIRT police will enter the reasons for this on the Police database and fax the notice, with reasons, through to the relevant DoCS Community Services Centre (CSC).
referral to rural JIRTs
- DoCS Helpline will determine if a referral for joint investigation is appropriate
- DoCS will manage JIRT referrals and ensure referrals are made within two hours or immediately by phone if it is urgent
- the Police Team Leader and the DoCS Casework Manager will be advised by phone that the report has been faxed through
- if the matter is urgent the JIRT will accept or reject the referral by phone in the first instance
- DoCS will ensure that the case is transferred to the CSC on DoCS' client information system (KiDS)
- the Police Team Leader in consultation with the DoCS Casework Manager will assess the referral and decide if the matter is accepted or rejected
- when the referral is accepted or rejected, JIRT will enter the reason for this on the Police database and fax notice through to the CSC.
the role of NSW Health
NSW Health is a partner in the joint investigation response.
Health has a network of Sexual Assault Services (SAS) and Physical Abuse and Neglect of Children Services (PANOC) across rural and metropolitan NSW.
There are specialist programs for sexualised behaviour and for some offenders of sexual assault. Children, young people and their families or carers can be referred to these services.