NCJ Number
92753
Date Published
1984
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Police need additional training to sensitize them to the nature, causes, and prevalence of family violence and to give them the knowledge and skills needed for effective intervention and referral in domestic violence cases.
Abstract
In addition, crisis intervention programs for battered women as well as batterers' counseling programs should provide the police with business cards and brochures which describe their services. A national survey of 89 shelters for battered women found that 34 shelters had mostly positive encounters with the police, 10 reported mostly negative encounters, and 35 described experiences which had been productive on some occasions and counterproductive on others. Training workshops conducted by staff of some of the shelters had improved rapport with the police. Most police are unaware of the extent and dynamics of family violence. Domestic disturbance calls are dangerous, time consuming, and frustrating for them. As a result, many police have traditionally been wary of domestic violence cases, and some still are. Opinions vary regarding whether or not to arrest a batterer. Since most abused women choose to continue living with their partners, programs which help the man to learn nonviolent methods of coping with anger and stress are needed. Court-mandated treatment for batterers is increasingly becoming an option. Police need to learn that all family members may need help from local mental health services. They also need to learn how to identify and intervene in domestic violence situations and what community resources are available for referrals. A case example and 29 references are provided.