Finding the Facts - Disciplinary and Harassment Investigation

4. Interview Strategies................................................................................................................................54 5. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................57 E. Administrative Searches................................................................................................................................58 1. Balancing Employee Privacy Interests...................................................................................................58 2. Guidelines for Conducting Workplace Searches:...................................................................................62 3. Searching an Employee’s Person or Personal Possessions ....................................................................62 4. Employee Monitoring ............................................................................................................................63 F. Polygraphs.....................................................................................................................................................67 G. Access to and Use of Criminal Records ........................................................................................................67 1. Arrest Records........................................................................................................................................67 2. Employment Decisions Based upon Criminal Records..........................................................................68 H. Concluding the Investigation.........................................................................................................................68 S ECTION 7 Evaluating the Facts.....................................................................................................................................................69 A. Review Your Investigation Binder ................................................................................................................69 B. Make Factual Findings ..................................................................................................................................69 1. Basic Factual Findings ...........................................................................................................................69 2. Burden of Proof......................................................................................................................................69 3. Credibility Determinations ........................................................................................................................70 C. Make Conclusions of Policy only– If Directed to Do So ..............................................................................72 S ECTION 8 Writing the Report .......................................................................................................................................................73 A. Contents of the Report...................................................................................................................................73 B. Attachments to the Report .............................................................................................................................73 C. Confidentiality of Investigation Report: How Much Can or Should Be Disclosed to the Complainant or the Accused?..................................................................................................................74 1. How Much Do You Tell the Complainant? ...........................................................................................74 2. How Much to Tell the Accused..............................................................................................................75 3. Discoverability of the Report .................................................................................................................77 S ECTION 9 Taking Corrective Action ............................................................................................................................................78 A. Prompt and Effective Remedial Action.........................................................................................................78 B. Type of Corrective Action.............................................................................................................................79

A PPENDIX A Sample Notice of Investigation to Witness/Employee .........................................................................................83

A PPENDIX B Sample Notice of Interview to Accused (Non-Sworn) .........................................................................................84

A PPENDIX C Sample Notice of Investigation to Accused (Sworn)............................................................................................85

A PPENDIX D Interrogation Admonition for Use in Sworn Police Interview..............................................................................87

A PPENDIX E Sample Statement and Questions for Use at the Beginning of the Investigative Interview..................................89

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