NCJ Number
45274
Date Published
1977
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE TRADITIONAL METHOD OF HANDLING POLICE DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE CALLS IS OUTLINED AND CRITICIZED; AN ALTERNATIVE IS DETAILED, RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM IS CITED, AND FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH IS ONE IN WHICH OFFICERS ATTEMPT TO SEPARATE THE DISPUTING PARTIES, ASCERTAIN WHAT HAPPENED, AND ARRIVE AT EITHER A FORMAL (ARREST) OR INFORMAL (PERSUADING ONE OF THE PARTIES TO LEAVE, THREATENING TO ARREST SOMEONE, ETC.) RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. NEITHER OF THESE OPTIONS DEALS WITH THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM OR PROVIDES ANY RELIEF OR ASSISTANCE TO THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED. THEREFORE, POLICE FIND THEMSELVES RETURNING TIME AND AGAIN TO THE SAME HOUSEHOLD TO HANDLE A VIOLENT DISPUTE; THEY TEND TO FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE IN THE HANDS OF SOCIAL WORKERS RATHER THAN POLICE, WHO HAVE 'MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS' TO ADDRESS. STATISTICS SHOW, HOWEVER, THAT 27.5 PERCENT OF THE POLICE OFFICERS ASSAULTED IN THE U.S. WERE ASSAULTED WHILE RESPONDING TO COMPLAINTS OF DISTURBANCES; IT IS CLEAR THAT TRADITIONAL POLICE RESPONSE FALLS SHORT OF THE NEEDS. AN ALTERNATIVE, PROPOSED BY DR. MORTON BARD IN 1966, INVOLVED TESTING THE IMPACT OF IMPROVING POLICE OFFICERS WITH TRAINING ON HOW TO INTERVENE IN FAMILY DISTURBANCES AND ESTABLISHING REFERRAL MECHANISMS FOR THE POLICE TO SEND FAMILIES TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES FOR CONTINUING ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING FAMILY PROBLEMS. THE EXPERIMENT, FOR WHICH A FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION UNIT WAS CREATED IN NEW YORK CITY, SUGGESTED THAT POLICE OFFICERS COULD IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SUCH SERVICE AND REDUCE THE CHANCES FOR PERSONAL INJURY. RESEARCH BY THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CHALLENGE THE ASSUMPTION THAT DOMESTIC HOMICIDES AND ASSAULTS COULD NOT BE PREVENTED SHOWED THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF HOMICIDES AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS IN KANSAS CITY OCCUR IN DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE SITUATIONS, THAT POLICE HAD MADE ONE OR SEVERAL CALLS TO MANY OF THE RESIDENCES INVOLVED WITHIN A 2-YEAR PERIOD PRIOR TO THE DOMESTIC ASSAULTS OR HOMICIDES, AND THAT MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS HAD BEEN ARRESTED DURING THE SAME 2-YEAR PERIOD FOR DISTURBANCE OR ASSAULT. THE RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT THE POTENTIAL FOR THE OCCURRENCE OF DOMESTIC HOMICIDES AND ASSAULTS MAY BE PREDICTABLE. ADEQUATE TRAINING IN CRISIS INTERVENTION FOR POLICE OFFICERS, FORMAL ALTERNATIVES OTHER THAN ARREST FOR DEALING WITH SUCH SITUATIONS, 24-HOUR-A-DAY ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND IMMEDIATE HELP FOR VICTIMS PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEER GROUPS ARE AMONG THE MEASURES RECOMMENDED FOR IMPROVING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM'S RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC ASSAULT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED (DAS)