NCJ Number
41354
Date Published
1976
Length
11 pages
Annotation
AFTER REVIEWING THE INTERRELATED ROLES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES A PROGRAM IN WHICH POLICE OFFICERS WERE GIVEN SPECIFIC TRAINING IN FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES.
Abstract
THIS PROGRAM EMBODIED CRIME PREVENTION AND PREVENTIVE MENTAL HEALTH PRINCIPLES BY UTILIZING POLICEMEN AS PRIMARY CRISIS INTERVENTION AGENTS. EIGHTEEN POLICEMEN WERE GIVEN AN INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY TRAINING PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, FIELD TRIPS, AND SPECIAL ROLE PLAYING SITUATIONS. AFTER THE MONTH OF INTENSIVE TRAINING, THE FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION UNIT BEGAN ITS OPERATIONAL PHASE. FOR THE SUBSEQUENT TWO-YEAR PERIOD, ONE RADIO CAR WAS DESIGNATED FOR USE BY THE UNIT AND WAS DISPATCHED ON ALL COMPLAINTS THAT COULD BE PREDETERMINED AS INVOLVING 'FAMILY DISTURBANCE'. IN ITS 21 MONTHS OF OPERATION, THE UNIT ENGAGED IN 1375 INTERVENTIONS WITH 962 FAMILIES. ALTHOUGH FINAL EVALUATION HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED, THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT IN SPITE OF THE HIGH-HAZARD WORK INVOLVED IN FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION, THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE INJURY SUSTAINED BY ANY MEMBER OF THE UNIT. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THREE PATROLMEN NOT TRAINED IN FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION SUSTAINED INJURY WHILE RESPONDING TO FAMILY DISTURBANCES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC