COUNTERACTING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE COMMUNITY - THE POLICE/SOCIAL WORK MODEL (FROM JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM NEW DIRECTIONS IN POLICY AND PROGRAMS 1977, BY PETER J ECK AND BRENDA BRADSHAW - SEE NCJ-56707)

• NCJ Number: 56714
• Author(s): H TREGER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Texas at Arlington
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

AN INTAKE AND REFERRAL SERVICE FOR TROUBLED YOUTH IS DESCRIBED, WHICH INVOLVED THE PLACEMENT OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

Abstract

ON MARCH 1, 1970, THE ILLINOIS LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION FUNDED A $453,000, 3 YEAR ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE JANE ADDAMS COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK IN CHICAGO. THE SOCIAL SERVICE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED AS A PIONEER EFFORT IN POLICE SOCIAL WORK AND INTER-PROFESSIONAL COOPERATION. THE PROGRAM CALLED FOR PLACEMENT OF TWO PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS AND GRADUATE SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS IN TWO SUBURBAN POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN ILLINOIS. EACH UNIT WAS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A PROJECT SUPERVISOR, AND CONSISTED OF A SECRETARY, TWO PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS, AND FOUR GRADUATE STUDENTS UNDER PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION. POLICE, LEGAL, AND MEDICAL PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATION WAS AVAILABLE TO THE STAFF. A PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL ADVISORY TEAM CONSISTING OF PERSONS WITH EXPERTISE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, LAW SOCIAL SERVICE, AND RESEARCH GAVE ADVICE AS NEEDED. A PRIMARY GOAL OF THE PROJECT WAS TO PROVIDE EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES TO NONVIOLENT MISDEMEANANTS, JUVENILES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND ADULTS WITH SOCIALLY-ORIENTED PROBLEMS COMING TO POLICE ATTENTION. SPECIFIC SERVICES PROVIDED WERE ASSESSMENTS OF CLIENTS, A 24-HOUR CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICE, INDIVIDUAL, MARITAL, AND FAMILY GROUP COUNSELING, AND REFERRAL TO COMMUNITY AGENCIES. ONE CONSTRUCTIVE RESULT FROM THE PROJECT WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF POSITIVE ATTITUDES OF POLICE AND SOCIAL WORKERS TOWARD ONE ANOTHER. WHEREAS, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT POLICE AND SOCIAL WORKERS TEND TO HAVE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, RESULTING IN NONCOOPERATION, THE PROGRAM DESCRIBED RESULTED IN A MUTUAL RECOGNITION ON THE PART OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND POLICE THAT THEY HAVE COMMON GOALS--THE PROTECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE REHABILITATION OF TROUBLED PEOPLE WHO CONTACT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE PROJECT FURTHER SHOWED THAT UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL CAN WORK IN COOPERATION WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES TO DEAL WITH COMMON COMMUNITY CONCERNS. WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE ONE DESCRIBED, A NEW BALANCE BETWEEN THE DUE PROCESS AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEMS CAN BE ACHIEVED. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, PLEASE SEE NCJ 56707-56713 AND 56715-56717. (RCB)