Our CAIP team members don’t wear capes, but they do incredibly important public safety work nonetheless. CAIP is a coordinated effort among multiple City of Burlington positions, housed in the Burlington Police Department. Team members include the BPD’s new Community Support Liaisons, or CSLs, as well as: the CEDO Victim’s Service Specialist; the BPD’s Domestic Violence Advocate; and the BPD’s Domestic Violence Prevention Officer, or DVPO, who is the only sworn police officer on the team. From domestic violence to victim’s services, from intervention in low-level crises to support for those experiencing mental-health challenges or substance-use disorder, CAIP team members address conditions that don’t require police intervention but have a public safety, public health, or quality-of-life nexus. The can include neighbor disputes and issues around houselessness. The unit uses person-centered approaches, provides trauma-informed care, and emphasizes culturally competent responses to support those who have experienced harm. The programs use a police officer only when it is necessary, such as when a crime has been committed or when public safety or people’s physical safety is at risk. The team works in conjunction with other social-service providers throughout Burlington and Chittenden County to help fill gaps and build bridges.
The unit is comprised of:
Domestic Violence Advocate
Domestic Violence Prevention Officer
Victim Service Specialist
Community Support Supervisor
Community Support Liaisons
To reach the Domestic Violence Advocate, please call: 802-540-2392.
To reach the Community Support Liaisons, please call: 802-540-2395
Snapshot of incidents and issues that are addressed by CAIP:
- Community Affairs Support. Quality of life complaints, low-level crime prevention/intervention, conflict resolution, mediation, restorative processes
- Houseless Support. Housing information and referrals, resource coordination & connection
- Mental Health and Substance Use Support. Intervention, resource coordination, information, and referrals.
- Victim Services. DV/SV support, victim advocacy, assistance with written statements
- Parallel Justice for Victims of Crime. Limited financial support
- Community Engagement. Tabling events, constituent group talks
- Crime Prevention Activities. Restorative justice that does not involve the criminal justice system
Current Program Positions and Job Functions:
*this is not a comprehensive list of job functions, so if you do not see it listed, don't worry! Assistance is not limited to the duties listed below*
Domestic Violence Advocate
- Support victims of domestic violence with TRO's
- Connect victims of domestic violence with community resources
- Support victims of sexual violence with TRO's
- Connect victims with States Attorney's Office and provide them with conditions of release
- Ability to assist victims with filing a police report
- Follow-up with victims per request of other agencies, i.e. police, States Attorney's Office, Steps or Hopeworks
- Track all protection orders sent to the Burlington Police Department
- Liasison to both Family and Civil Court regarding service of the protection orders
- Attend Family Court Final Protection Order Hearings
- Testify as Domestic Violence Expert Witness
Domestic Violence Prevention Officer
- Domestic Violence Advocate
- Follow-up with victims/offenders for open cases
- Take cases that need follow-up and intensive investigation
- Coordinate with the States Attorney's Office, Victim Advocates, and other State, Local, and Federal Agencies on open cases
- Help connect victims with social resources and safety resources through STEPS to End Domestic Violence, AALV, DCF, and others
- Check in with victims during, pre-arraignment, open cases, and post-conviction to ensure a seamless flow of information is provided
- Perform conditions check (court conditions, TRO/FRO)
- Help on cases in Burlington and throughout the State as needed.
- Do victim-impact statements and past bad acts statements as well as making sure the victim's wishes and concerns are expressed to the courts
- Participate in a number of committee's related to sexual and domestic violence
- Take referrals from other agencies in the county, from the States Attorney's Office, and from CUSI
- Assist in filing out paperwork and applying for TRO's
Victim Service Specialist
- Parallel Justice for Victim of Crime (financial help for victims of crime)
- Victim advocacy
- Victim support and case follow-up
- Vicitm information and referrals
- Victim resource and coordination
- TRO's/RFA support
- Crime prevention activities
- Alternative Justice referrals
Community Support Supervisor
- Advocacy
- Management of the City's Policy on Sheltering on Public Land
- Outreach case management, and housing navigations services for individuals that are homeless
- Active member of the Chittenden County Treatment Court Team
- Answer calls/emails from citizens about any issue that is civil in nature
- Mediation of neighbor to neighbor conflicts, landlord advocacy
- Access point to file complaints on BPD personnel
- Assists community members with resolving quality of life issues
- Participation on hiring panels for new Officers
- Supervision of the Community Support Liaison positions
Community Support Liaisons
- Respond to real time calls for service, where the presence of law enforcement is not necessary and/or appropriate. These types of calls include:
- Issues related to mental health
- Issues related to substance use
- Issues related to homelessness
- Proactive prevention work related to public safety
- Culturally competent temporary case management, service connection and person defined support provided
