M.O.V.E.S.

MOBILE OPERATIONS VICTIM EMERGENCY SERVICES

Office of the State Attorney, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida

Katherine Fernandez Rundle – State Attorney
1350 NW 12 Avenue
Miami, Florida 33136-2111

What is M.O.V.E.S.?

The Mobile Operations Victim Emergency Services (M.O.V.E.S.) serves the victims of domestic violence after a domestic violence arrest, initiating the activities of the legal system. The first hours after the crime are critical in achieving effective prosecution, and more importantly, assessing the victim’s needs and directing the victim to a safe environment. Victims are more receptive to change immediately following the crime.

The basic goal is to provide victims of domestic violence with effective, timely support and guidance immediately after the crime to help them regain control of their lives. This early intervention will also help build better cases for prosecution and provide the prosecutor with the necessary tools to make decisions about each case. It improves the probability of successful prosecution of domestic violence cases.

M.O.V.E.S. is participating with the following police agencies:

Miami-Dade Police Department (Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office)
City of Aventura PD                        City of Coral Gables PD
Town of Cutler Bay PD                   City of Doral PD
City of Florida City PD                     Town of Golden Beach PD
City of Hialeah PD                            City of Hialeah Gardens PD
City of Homestead PD                    Village of Key Biscayne PD
Town of Medley PD                        City of Miami PD
City of Miami Beach PD                 City of Miami Gardens PD
Town of Miami Lakes PD               City of Miami Springs PD
City of North Miami PD                  City of North Miami Beach PD
City of Opa Locka PD                       Village of Palmetto Bay PD
Village of Pinecrest PD                   City of South Miami PD
City of Sunny Isles Beach PD       Town of Surfside PD
City of Sweetwater PD

The program has domestic paralegals on call hat will interview the victim, witnesses and officers. The paralegals will perform all initial case preparation including sworn statements, take photographs of victim, assess victim’s needs (Crime compensation, shelters, restraining orders…) and assess the risk of violence, placing special attention in victim’s safety.

Hours of operations

MONDAY – FRIDAY (5:00 PM TO 5:00 AM)
24 HOURS WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS

1. The officer makes a probable cause arrest (felony or misdemeanor) in a domestic relationship (any intimate partner or dating relationship or family or household member).
2. The officer completes the arrest report and all scene paperwork.
3. The officer notifies the M.O.V.E.S. paralegal directly via phone immediately after the arrest. The following information will be required from the officer before responding:
4. Does the victim and/or witness speak a language other than English?
5. What are the arrest charges?
6. Victim’s name and phone number? Minor victims? Disability?
7. Synopsis of incident and police case number

A M.O.V.E.S. paralegal will respond to your station, hospital, arrest scene (when escorted by an officer) to conduct a Pre-file Conference (PFC).

4. The officer will be responsible for ensuring the victim and/or witness (es) respond to the station. If the victim and witnesses have their own transportation, they should be advised to meet the officer at the station. If the victim is transported to a hospital or medical facility, the officer will transport all other witnesses to PFC site and inform the M.O.V.E.S. paralegal of the victim’s location and condition.
5. The officer will be the first person pre-filed if they provide the paralegal with a copy of the Arrest Affidavit (A-Form), Offense Incident Report, and Domestic Violence Supplement Report. Please provide copies of written statements and photographs if applicable.

Note: Our priority is to interview the victim. If the officer is unable to provide us with a statement at that time, a PFC would be conducted in the future in our main office.

6. All transportation required of the victim and/or witnesses after the PFC will be handled by the M.O.V.E.S. paralegal.
7. CONTACT M.O.V.E.S. IF THE VICTIM REFUSES TO COOPERATE. In the event the victim refuses to respond back to the police station, the M.O.V.E.S. Paralegal should speak to the victim via phone. The officer will provide the paralegal with victim’s phone number to initiate the contact.

M.O.V.E.S. should be contacted in all domestic violence felonies and misdemeanor arrests.

M.O.V.E.S. should not be contacted on the following arrest charges:

Kidnapping (1^st degree)
Burglary with assault or Burglary with battery (1^st degree) (also it applies if Burglary is listed alone and battery the following listed charge).
Armed Robbery (1^st degree)
Armed Carjacking (1^st degree)
2^nd Degree Murder or Attempted 2^nd Degree Murder
Tampering with victim or witness as the only charge
Aggravated Child Abuse & Child Neglect
Sexual Battery

M.O.V.E.S. should not be contacted if the defendant is a juvenile, public official, police officer, or State Attorney’s Office employee.

M.O.V.E.S. should not be contacted if the case is a cross arrest case.