DOMESTIC CRISIS INTERVENTION - EVOLUTION OF A POLICE TRAINING PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 37034
• Journal: CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1975) Pages: 9-16
• Author(s): J A SCHWARTZ
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: California Attorney General's Building
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EARLY PROGRAMS FOR POLICE DOMESTIC CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING ARE EXAMINED; AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND RESULTS OF A COMPREHENSIVE, DEPARTMENT-WIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING PROGRAM DEVELOPED IN CALIFORNIA ARE EXPLORED.

Abstract

SINCE DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE INCIDENTS ARE AMONG THE MOST FREQUENT, DANGEROUS, TIME CONSUMING, AND POTENTIALLY DISRUPTIVE SITUATIONS HANDLED BY POLICE OFFICERS, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT SPECIFIC TRAINING IN DOMESTIC CRISIS INTERVENTION CAN BE JUSTIFIED BY CONCERNS FOR OFFICER SAFETY, DEPARTMENTAL TIME AND EFFICIENCY, CRIME PREVENTION, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. EARLY PROGRAMS IN CRISIS INTERVENTION WERE UNDERTAKEN IN NEW YORK CITY AND OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. WHILE VALUABLE IN MANY RESPECTS, THESE PROGRAMS PRODUCED ONLY LIMITED BENEFITS. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN BECAUSE THE PROGRAMS WERE NOT ONGOING OR INSTITUTIONALIZED AND BECAUSE ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE OFFICERS IN EACH DEPARTMENT RECEIVED THE TRAINING. IN 1970, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING PROGRAM BEGAN IN RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA. BASED ON OBSERVATION OF ACTUAL POLICE PERFORMANCE AND SURVEYS OF POLICE OFFICERS. A SYSTEMATIC POLICE PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING THESE DISTURBANCE CALLS WAS DEVELOPED. THE TRAINING WAS PRACTICAL IN NATURE, COVERING SUCH TOPICS AS OFFICER SAFETY, DIFFUSING, MEDIATION, BRIEF INTERVIEWING, REFERRAL, CULTURAL ISSUES, AND LEGAL ISSUES. WRITTEN MATERIALS, FILMS, AND DISPUTE SIMULATIONS WERE USED IN THE TRAINING, WHICH WAS GIVEN TO EVERY OFFICER, NOT JUST TO A FEW 'SPECIALISTS'. THE RICHMOND PROGRAM HAS BEEN USED SUCCESSFULLY IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. EVALUATIONS OF THESE TRAININGS HAVE INDICATED POSITIVE REACTIONS OF AUTHORS, INCREASED SATISFACTION OF CITIZENS RECEIVING THE CRISIS INTERVENTION AID, AND DECREASED POLICE TIME SPENT HANDLING THE DISTURBANCE CALLS. AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT OF THIS PROGRAM IS THAT IN-HOUSE PERSONNEL MAY BE TRAINED AS INSTRUCTORS.