NCJ Number
70350
Date Published
1980
Length
34 pages
Annotation
Findings are reported from a Canadian study of citizens' requests for service and police response for the Vancouver Police Department (British Columbia), with particular attention to requests for police intervention in domestic disputes.
Abstract
Data were collected for (1) the proportion of time expended by police in the management of domestic disputes, (2) characteristics of domestic disputes (prevalence of violence, use of alcohol, domestic setting, and relationship of disputants), (3) the incidence of police injury and assault sustained in domestic dispute situations, and (4) the use made by the police of other social services. Data were obtained from a time and contact breakdown of police activity from dispatch records for the 6 months of January to June 1975; the 'Family Trouble' file of Miscellaneous and Supplementary Reports for the same period; and police injury and assault reports. Findings show that the Vancouver Police Department devotes a considerable amount of time and resources to citizen requests for police involvement in noncriminal situations. The police respond in an inconsistent manner, answering about half of the requests by dispatching a patrol car. The low probabilities of dispatch indicate that citizens want police involvement in situations where police determine that intervention is not appropriate. Because domestic interpersonal behavior may not clearly involve violation of the law, the police need clear guidelines on those factors in a domestic dispute that dictate police involvement. Reports on police injuries in answering domestic dispute calls are inconclusive, but preliminary findings indicate a low incidence of police injury in such situations. General family crisis intervention training for British of Columbia police is described. Plans are underway to monitor changes over time in the police modes of response as a result of family crisis intervention training. Tabular data and 19 references are provided.