Improving Response to Opioid Deaths with Resources and Training (2020)
Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office (Santa Rosa, CA)
Population: 496,801 | Contact Information
The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office (SCDA) is creating a Sonoma County Opioid Prosecution Effort (SCOPE) initiative to respond to a significant increase in opioid and fentanyl-related overdose deaths and a resulting backlog in investigations and prosecutions of involved parties. Staffing and technology solutions will assist in increased investigation of these cases.
To address gaps in resources and training among county law enforcement agencies that have resulted in limited prosecution of opioid and fentanyl overdose deaths the SCDA has re-established its Narcotics Unit and is using IPS funding to hire a Senior District Attorney, a Senior Investigator, and a Senior Technology Specialist. This dedicated team is strengthening multi-agency coordination while training on investigative techniques and evidence collection. The SCDA is also expanding its use of Evidence.com, a website that will enable multi-agency information-sharing of electronically stored evidence. Lastly, SCDA is partnering with Prosecutor by Karpel (PBK) to track opioid-related cases more efficiently