NCJ Number
60755
Journal
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 39-51
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CRIME PREVENTION UNIT IN POMONA, CALIF., AGREED TO CONSPONSOR A PILOT CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM IN 1978.
Abstract
THE SELECTION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS THE COSPONSORING AGENCY WAS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING FACTORS: (1) ANY COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM MUST HAVE A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY; (2) THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY AGENCY SPECIFIED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE CHILD ABUSE REPORTING LAW TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE; (3) CHILD ABUSE IS A CRIME BY DEFINITION; (4) ALL CASES OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE THAT ARE TURNED IN MUST BE EVENTUALLY REPORTED TO THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WITH JURISDICTION; AND (5) REPORTS ARE TO BE FORWARDED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE CENTRAL CHILD ABUSE FILE HOUSED WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM IN POMONA WAS TO ENCOURAGE A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY-BASED MECHANISM THROUGH WHICH CONSTRUCTIVE AND COOPERATIVE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION ACTIONS COULD FLOW. THIS REQUIRED MULTIAGENCY INVOLVEMENT AND COOPERATIVE PROFESSIONAL INTERACTION AT ALL STAGES OF THE PROGRAM. SECONDARY PROGRAM OBJECTIVES WERE TO PROVIDE STANDARDIZED INFORMATION ON CHILD ABUSE RECOGNITION AND INTERVENTION AND TO CARRY OUT THE PROGRAM WITH NO SPECIAL FUNDING. THREE PHASES COMPRISED THE PROGRAM. THE FIRST INVOLVED INSERVICE TRAINING RELEVANT TO CHILD ABUSE RECOGNITION, INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES, AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG CHILD ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE. THE SECOND PHASE WAS ENTIRELY DEVOTED TO THE COORDINATION AND PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED INHOUSE TRAINING AND GENERAL COMMUNITY AWARENESS SESSIONS. WHILE THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF TRAINING AND AWARENESS SESSIONS WAS COMMUNITYWIDE RECOGNITION OF CHILD ABUSE AND IMPROVED REPORTING, THEY WERE ALSO DESIGNED TO SERVE AS AN ENTRY POINT FOR INTERVENTION OR PREVENTION. THE LOCATION, EVALUATION, AND COORDINATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES ALREADY AVAILABLE MADE UP THE GOAL OF THE THIRD PHASE. A SENSE OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM BASED IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPED BY BRINGING REPRESENTATIVES FROM INVOLVED AGENCIES AND RESOURCE SYSTEMS TOGETHER TO WORK IN THE PROGRAM. INFORMATION ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC COMPOSITION OF THE CITY OF POMONA AND TRAINING IS PROVIDED IN CHARTS. (DEP)