Stratford is becoming a pilot community for a new partnership on sexual assault investigations.
It's called the "Philadelphia Model." It's designed to enhance police response to sexual violence through the review of sexual assault cases by professionals with specialized knowledge on sexual assault issues.
By pooling knowledge from professionals, the Philadelphia Model also ensures the best outcome for the assault survivor.
Optimism Place Women’s Shelter and Support Services and the Stratford Police Service have formed a partnership with the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women and the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre to support the Stratford model.
Implementation will begin immediately with advocate review selection and other training in Stratford over the coming months.
"Advocate reviewers can filter evidence through a different lens, and provide feedback to police, leading to an honest and frank conversation about sexual assault investigations," says Stratford Police Chief Mike Ballai. "We want justice for sexual assault survivors."