FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION BY THE POLICE - PART 2

• NCJ Number: 65567
• Journal: ALGEMEEN POLITIEBLAD Volume: 127 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 21, 1978) Pages: 32-37
• Author(s): G VREDEVELD
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Country: Netherlands
• Note: PART 2 OF A THREE PART SERIES.

Annotation

THE SECOND ARTICLE IN A THREE-PART SERIES ON FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION BY THE DUTCH POLICE COMPARES RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS IN NEW YORK AND LOUISVILLE, AND ASSESSES THE NEED FOR SUCH PROGRAMS IN HOLLAND.

Abstract

THE OBJECT OF FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING FOR POLICE IN BOTH NEW YORK AND LOUISVILLE WAS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FAMILY CRISIS VICTIMS AND TO IMPROVE POLICE HANDLING OF DOMESTIC CRISES. WHILE THE NEW YORK PROGRAM CONCENTRATED ON SENSITIVITY TRAINING, IN LOUISVILLE IT WAS CONCERNED WITH BUILDING OFFICERS' SELF-CONFIDENCE. SELECTION FOR THE PROGRAM WAS STRICTER IN NEW YORK THAN IN LOUISVILLE; ONLY THE NEW YORK PROGRAM WAS ON A STRICTLY VOLUNTARY BASIS. INSTRUCTION CONSISTED OF LECTURES, FILMS, VIDEOTAPED SIMULATED FAMILY CRISES, AND FIELD TRIPS TO REFERRAL AGENCIES. IN AN OPERATIONAL PHASE OF INSTRUCTION TRAINEES DISCUSSED WITH THE REST OF THE GROUPS DIFFICULT CASES WHICH THEY HAD ACTUALLY HANDLED. EVALUATION SHOWED THAT IN BOTH CASES TRAINED OFFICERS WERE BETTER ABLE TO HANDLE INTERVENTION THAN NONTRAINED CONTROL GROUPS, THAT LESS FORCE WAS NEEDED IN INTERVENTION SITUATIONS THAN PREVIOUSLY, AND THAT THE PUBLIC GENERALLY REACTED FAVORABLY TO THE PROJECTS. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN BOTH PROJECTS WERE RESISTANCE OF THE LOWEST POLICE RANKS TO THE TRAINING, AND PROBLEMS IN WORKING WITH ASSISTANCE AGENCIES. EVALUATION OF THE REQUESTS FOR FAMILY CRISIS ASSISTANCE IN THE DUTCH TOWNS OF APELDOORN AND EDE INDICATES THAT ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THE REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE RELATE TO FAMILY CRISES AND THAT MOST CALLS OCCUR ON WEEKENDS OR HOLIDAYS, WHEN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REFER CALLS TO OTHER ASSISTANCE AGENCIES. THE POLICE THUS SPEND ABOUT AS MUCH TIME ON FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION AS ALL THE OTHER ASSISTANCE AGENCIES TOGETHER. BUT THE TIME IS WELL SPENT, AS THE NEED FOR INVESTIGATION OF VIOLENT CRIMES RESULTING FROM FAMILY CRISIS IS REDUCED. TABLES AND NOTES ARE SUPPLIED. SEE NCJ 65566 AND 65568 FOR THE FIRST AND THIRD INSTALLMENTS OF THE ARTICLE.