NCJ Number
87048
Date Published
1981
Length
159 pages
Annotation
This curriculum guide is designed to help police agency trainers understand the nature and causes of spouse abuse and to teach them new methods for handling these calls effectively and safely.
Abstract
The guide is divided into five sequential 4-hour instructional units. The units focus on understanding spouse abuse; interpreting statutory provisions, police procedures, and legal issues; responding to calls; providing guidelines for disposition alternatives; and using community resources. Each session has specific training objectives and contains an activity summary, resource materials, and suggested schedule. Experiential activities, such as role playing and group simulation, broaden officers' perspectives and help them visualize problem situations. The training approach addresses the personal, occupational, and social dimensions of behavior and targets attitudes. The course emphasizes that officers' main objective is stopping violence rather than solving domestic problems; those who use violence against their spouses must be held accountable. Appendixes include the course syllabus, resource papers, and a course evaluation form.