NCJ Number
82729
Date Published
1982
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This brochure provides guidelines for the community activist or agency-based clinician working in battered women advocacy for improving working relationships with police departments.
Abstract
The guide is designed to facilitate the planning and implementation of effective programs with police for the purpose of developing ways to reduce the incidence of spouse abuse in the community. Before police officials agree to work with a spouse abuse advocate, they will want to determine the organization's credibility, authenticity, legitimacy, and political power. Preliminary steps involved in preparing to work with police in the community include defining the spouse abuse problem, documenting current police practices, identifying problem areas, researching the police chief, selecting a style of approach and identifying potential supporters. Aspects of working together with the police focus on gaining access to the police chief, suggesting and implementing changes in police procedures, establishing a new training curriculum for police officers, monitoring changes in operational procedures, encouraging positive changes in the department, and dealing with negative responses. The advocate's attitude toward police will greatly influence eventual success or failure. Twelve footnotes and a list of resources are provided.