NCJ Number
55381
Journal
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 10-16
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE HAYWARD, CALIF., POLICE DEPARTMENT'S EXPERIENCE WITH USING FAMILY COUNSELORS TO ASSIST IN THE HANDLING OF DOMESTIC DISPUTES IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE HAYWARD POLICE USE FAMILY COUNSELORS TO ASSIST OFFICERS AT THE SCENE OF DOMESTIC DISTURBANCES, TO TRAIN OFFICERS AND FIRST-LINE SUPERVISORS IN CRISIS INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES, AND TO PROVIDE FREE COUNSELING TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO REQUEST IT. FAMILY COUNSELORS ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE HAYWARD COUNSELORS HAVE EXAMINED THEIR EXPERIENCES IN LIGHT OF RESEARCH ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THEY HAVE COME TO SEE THEIR ROLE AS ONE OF HELPING BOTH THE VICTIM AND THE ASSAILANT IN A VIOLENT DISPUTE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN CONTROL THEIR BEHAVIOR. IF THE DISPUTANTS BELIEVE THEY CANNOT CONTROL THEIR BEHAVIOR, THEN THE COUNSELORS HELP THEM DEAL WITH THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY SHOULD STAY IN THE RELATIONSHIP. IF SEPARATION OR DIVORCE SEEMS TO BE THE ANSWER, THEN THE COUNSELORS PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AS NEEDED. THE COUNSELORS ENCOURAGE ALL THE PEOPLE THEY ENCOUNTER, EVEN ABUSED CHILDREN, TO DISCOVER THEIR OWN POWER TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. HAVING FAMILY COUNSELORS WORK WITH POLICE OFFICERS MAKES GOOD OPERATIONAL AND ECONOMIC SENSE. IT DECREASES DANGER TO OFFICERS, MINIMIZES POLICE INVOLVEMENT IN FAMILY DISTURBANCES (PARTICULARLY WITH CHRONICALLY DYSFUNCTIONING FAMILIES), AND REDUCES THE EMOTIONAL DRAIN ON OFFICERS. COUNSELORS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, PRESENT THE KIND OF LOW-KEY, NONTHREATENING IMAGE THAT CAN CALM A VOLATILE SITUATION. MANY CHRONICALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES NOW CALL THE COUNSELORS RATHER THAN THE POLICE WHEN A CRISIS ARISES. POLICE OFFICERS NO LONGER FEEL SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, SUCH AS THOSE INVOLVING BATTERED WOMEN WHO WANT TO BUT CANNOT LEAVE THEIR ASSAILANTS. (LKM)