What should division staff maintain during investigations?

During investigations, it is essential for division staff to maintain confidentiality of complaint information. This practice protects the privacy of individuals involved and ensures that sensitive information is not disclosed inappropriately. Confidentiality helps foster trust in the investigation process, allowing individuals to come forward without fear of retaliation or public exposure.

Maintaining confidentiality is also critical from a legal standpoint, as it aligns with various privacy laws and regulations that govern the handling of complaints and sensitive information. By safeguarding the details of complaints, staff can focus on conducting a thorough and impartial investigation without external pressures or influences that might arise from public knowledge of the complaint details.

While open communication with the public, maintaining a log of all received complaints, and a transparent review process are important operational practices, they are secondary to the necessity of protecting the confidentiality of the individuals and information involved during an investigation.