NCJ Number
113216
Date Published
Unknown
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Family Crisis Intervention Training Project grew from the realization that police are often reluctant to deal with family disturbances both because of their unpredictability and the paucity of standard police procedures for dealing with such incidents.
Abstract
In 1978, based on the results of a survey of officers and a review of other training programs, overall program and training goals were formulated. Training was designed to introduce participants to concepts and techniques of family crisis intervention, including information about crisis, stress, family systems, and communication as related to participants' work. Also covered were effective responses to family crisis and disturbance situations and community referral resources. Crisis intervention modules were built around a series of films on officer survival in these situations. Questionnaire responses indicated generally positive evaluations and provided suggestions for improving the training curriculum. A comparison of pretest and post-test scores on a written simulation instrument indicated that the program had been effective in meeting some of its learning objectives. Participants' post-test responses were more likely to include recommendations for conducting a safety check for weapons, counseling, mediation, separate disputant interviews, and referral. The pilot project is still in use. 10 references.