The experience of the King County Prosecutor s Office and the Seattle Police Department during the grant period produced useful information about interagency partnering. Collaboration among agencies can take time and persistence, especially when the partnership is new. Working out program issues and details among agencies and including all the appropriate players can be a complicated process, even when agencies have agreed to collaborate on a new program. Selecting a prosecutor who has real interest in and enthusiasm for the particular project is essential.
Flexibility is important.
SPD adjusted its program to fit the talents and skills of the prosecutor chosen for the project, and the prosecutor s office allowed him the freedom to work with SPD to refine the program to best meet the goals of the grant. All agencies in a partnership benefit. Improving communication between the police and prosecutor had a big payoff in the creation of stronger cases. A new program does not have to be costly. The Seattle YHVI program included a database component.