Photo credit: Leslie the Pony Lion and Amy. Photo © Sara Muskulus

Investigatory Philosophy and Procedure

Goal of a Conduct Committee investigation

Our goal is to gather enough information to be able to make a fair and reasonable recommendation whether to allow someone continued access to events or volunteer infrastructure.

Our responsibilities are to:

  • Document each incident report
  • Determine whether a report is actionable
  • Develop enough of an understanding of the situation that a recommendation can be made to the board, if needed

The goal is NOT to determine guilt or innocence.

Again, the goal is to gather enough information to be able to make a fair and reasonable recommendation whether to allow someone continued access to events or volunteer infrastructure.

While the Conduct Committee may choose not to recommend action based on a single report, multiple reports about an individual constituting a pattern of misconduct can result in a recommendation of action. We do not label people as criminals or determine whether reports are true beyond reasonable doubt.

 

Procedure

 

Anonymity

If a reporter provides information to the Conduct Committee but does not want us to talk to the person or persons their report is about, we cannot make a recommendation to the board on that case. We will retain the information, and may contact the reporter in the future. When a case is being investigated we will do our best to maintain the anonymity of the reporter but cannot guarantee it. Because we will not be able to gather all of the information, needed we are unable to accept incidents from an anonymous reporter.

 

Timeline

The Conduct Committee tries to hear multiple perspectives about some complex situations, and our volunteers often have busy schedules just like the witnesses and others they talk to.  It can take several months to have a sufficient number of conversations to provide an understanding of the situation behind some reports. If you are interacting with the Conduct Committee (as a reporter, subject of a report, or witness), you can help keep our process moving by responding to emails from investigators in a timely fashion, and are welcome to check in with investigators yourself about report status.

 

Typical Step-by-Step Procedure

  • When the FPCS Incident Report Form is submitted, Conduct Committee leads are automatically notified of the report
  • Conduct Committee Leads contact the reporter to verify the content and suggest two investigators, then assigns those investigators to the case.
  • Investigators review what has been reported and contact reporter to gather further information. Investigators explain possible next steps and possible outcomes to reporter.
  • After the initial interview, investigators will then talk with witnesses and the subject of the report, wherever possible and appropriate.
  • Investigators may also consult with character witnesses such as other event hosts, and follow up any leads of similar behaviors to establish if there is a larger pattern.
  • Investigators bring the results of their investigation back to the Conduct Committee for consensus on a recommendation.
  • The Conduct Committee recommends action(s) to the Board such as:
    • Provide an official warning
    • Bar a participant from volunteering in particular capacities or in any capacity.
    • Ban from FirePony Creative Society events for either one year or permanently.
    • Archive the information and recommend no action.
  • Upon receiving a recommendation, the Board may:
    • Accept the recommendation
    • Request further detail or additional investigation
    • Pursue a different course of action
  • Board representatives contact the reportee with an official notice
  • The Conduct Committee contacts the reporter to notify them of the Board’s action
  • The Board determines whether to announce the decision to the FirePony Creative Society community or leads of other events

 

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