NCJ Number
16975
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1974) Pages: 281-290
Date Published
1974
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A REPORT ON A THREE-YEAR ACTION-RESEARCH PROJECT SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES COMING TO THE ATTENTION OF POLICE AND PROSECUTORS.
Abstract
TWO SOCIAL SERVICE PROJECT (SSP) UNITS WERE DEVELOPED AND PLACED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF NILE AND WHEATON, IN ILLINOIS. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT SPEEDY SOCIAL ASSESSMENT AND EARLY INTERVENTION CAN ALLEVIATE OVERLOADING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND INITIATE TREATMENT IMMEDIATELY BY DIVERTING SOME NONVIOLENT MISDEMEANANTS AND OTHERS TO A MORE APPROPRIATE SOCIAL RESOURCE OF THE COMMUNITY OR TO A SOCIAL WORKER IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICES INCLUDE SOCIAL ASSESSMENTS, 24-HOUR CRISIS INTERVENTION, TREATMENT AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO CLIENTS, AND CONSULTATIVE SERVICES TO POLICE. POLICE, LEGAL, AND PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATION IS AVAILABLE TO THE STAFF. THE PROJECT FOUND THAT SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF POLICE AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY HAD AN OFFENSE, A COMPLAINT, OR A PROBLEM THAT MADE THEM APPROPRIATE CLIENTS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES. ATTITUDE STUDIES UNDERTAKEN AFTER PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION SHOWED THAT THE ATTITUDES OF POLICE AND SOCIAL WORKERS TOWARD EACH OTHER SHOWED POSITIVE CHANGES. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT POLICE-SOCIAL WORK COOPERATION ENHANCED THE FUNCTIONING OF BOTH PROFESSIONS AND THAT SOCIAL WORKERS IN A POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED IMMEDIATE OR EARLY SERVICES AT CRITICAL TIMES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)