Lessons Learned From Early Corrections and Law Enforcement Family Support (CLEFS) Programs

• NCJ Number: 192287
• Author(s): Robert P. Delprino Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 50 pages
• Grant Number(s): 99-FS-VX-0002
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This report discusses the lessons learned from the first 3 years of funding (1996 through 1998) the NIJ-sponsored (National Institute of Justice) Corrections and Law Enforcement Family Support (CLEFS) Program, which has addressed the negative effects of stress experienced by law enforcement and correctional officers and their families.

Abstract

The funded programs have included peer support, critical incident stress debriefing, chaplain services, inoculation stress training for rookies and officers on the job, and the implementation and evaluation of innovative clinical techniques such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) with law enforcement officers. For the time period of the current study, 25 grants were awarded. Two of the grantees were awarded supplemental grants to continue or further develop a program. Site visits were conducted with 18 of the 23 departments and agencies that received grants. In addition, a survey was sent to each grantee; it was designed to identify issues grantees faced in conducting their various programs. One of the most significant contributions of the CLEFS Program was found to be the bringing together of administrators, officers, family members, union representatives, mental health professionals, and researchers to address the stress that is an inherent part of the jobs of law enforcement officers and correctional officers. Although some progress has been made in mitigating and managing such stress, there is still more to do. Greater attention should be given to the following areas: needs assessment, knowledge and willingness to use programs, research and evaluation, and the impact of the organization. 33 references and appended listing of grantees from 1996 through 1998 and the survey questionnaire