NCJ Number
51125
Date Published
1977
Length
61 pages
Annotation
THE TRAINING OF 162 POLICE OFFICERS FROM PEORIA, PEORIA COUNTY, AND EAST PEORIA, ILL., IN FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE TRAINING PROGRAM, CONDUCTED BY A COMMUNITY COLLEGE UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF PEORIA, INCLUDES BOTH CLASSROOM AND FIELD EXPERIENCE AND IS OFFERED TO CLASSES OF 12 TO 14 OFFICERS EACH. PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR, INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS, PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF HUMAN RISIS INTERVENTION, AND ORIENTATION TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEM ARE COVERED. GROUP DISCUSSIONS, LECTURES, FILMED ROLE-PLAYING EXERCISES, AND SUPERVISED FIELD EXPERIENCES ARE EMPLOYED. THE PROGRAM IS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF THE ASSESSMENTS OF PARTICIPATING OFFICERS, POLICE ADMINISTRATORS, CITIZENS VISITED BY OFFICERS AS A RESULT OF FAMILY DISPUTES, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE COUNSELORS WHO WORK WITH POLICE TO PROVIDE ON-THE-SPOT REFERRAL IN EMERGENCY SITUTATIONS. EFFORTS TO TRANSFER THE PROGRAM MODEL TO OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE OUTLINED. CASE STUDIES DEMONSTRATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE COUNSELORS ARE PRESENTED. THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM ON CRIME RATES IS CONSIDERED. THE PROGRAM IS TERMED A SUCESS. A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT HAS BEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONGER TIES BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAM HAS HAD NO APPARENT EFFECT ON THE CRIME RATE, IT HAS HAD CONSIDERABLE EFFECT ON OFFICERS' ATTITUDES AND SOME EFFECT ON PUBLIC ATTITUDES. POLICE INVOLVEMENT WITH FAMILIES IN CONTINUOUS SEQUENCES OF FAMILY DISTURBANCES HAS DIMINISHED, AND FAMILY-RELATED DISTURBANCES ARE BEING DIVERTED FROM THE COURTS. FAMILIES INVOLVED IN CRISIS SITUATIONS ARE RECEIVING SERVICES DIRECTED TOWARD ALLEVIATING THEIR PROBLEMS WITHOUT RESORTING TO FURTHER JUSTICE SYSTEM INTERVENTION. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION ARE APPENDED. (1KM)