NCJ Number
100685
Journal
National Police Research Unit Review Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (1985) Pages: 17-21
Date Published
1985
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This Australian pilot study of police handling of domestic crises in the capital cities of two States examines officer attitudes with respect to peace order legislation and the counseling services of welfare agencies.
Abstract
Counseling services in State A consist of a 24-hour telephone service, with face-to-face counseling restricted to office hours. State B has comprehensive emergency 24-hour social services available to police at a domestic assault scene. State A provides for only complainant-initiated restraint orders, and State B authorizes both police-initiated and complainant-initiated orders. Eight domestic incidents were researched in each of the States. State A police made limited use of social service counseling, and officers were generally unaware of such services. State B police used emergency counseling services when they could not immediately resolve the domestic problem through legislative action or mediation. State A police believed increased legislative powers are required for them to improve their handling of domestic assaults. State B police were satisfied with existing restraint-order legislation.