NCJ Number
113751
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 36 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1988) Pages: 66-67
Date Published
1988
Length
2 pages
Annotation
In Phoenix, Ariz., a mobile squad of paid and volunteer social workers aid police by smoothing out volatile situations such as domestic disturbances.
Abstract
The Family Stress Team also notifies families of deaths, mediates neighborhood disputes, does paperwork for foster placements, and provides support to rape and other crime victims. They are knowledgeable about the police hierarchy, radio codes, legal aspects of their work, and nonviolent self-defense. Volunteers who are not professional counselors also receive 72 hours of crisis intervention training. The team members work in pairs during the weekend hours that were found to have the highest rates of family violence. The team emphasizes early intervention, and much of its time is spent on followup calls. During fiscal 1986, the team handled 656 calls involving 1,500 people. They also handled a large number of referrals from police officers. In addition to counseling in the field, team members explain social services and are a particularly valuable asset in cases of child abuse and neglect. Police have found that the team saves them much valuable time, and reactions to the work of team members have been generally favorable. Illustration and photograph.