NCJ Number
56603
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THE STRUCTURE, ACTIVITIES, AND TRAINING PROGRAMS OF THE WEST GERMAN CRIMINAL POLICE COUNSELING SERVICES ARE DISCUSSED, AND BETTER UTILIZATION OF THE COUNSELING CENTERS FOR CRIME PREVENTION IS ENCOURAGED.
Abstract
ORGANIZATIONALLY, LOCAL COUNSELING OFFICES SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INFORMATION FLOW AND PROCESSING AS WELL AS FOR INITIATION OF ACTION, WHILE CENTRAL OFFICES ARE DEVOTED TO CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS AND TO THE MOST IMPORTANT CASES DIRECTLY INVOLVING THE PUBLIC. THE LOCAL OFFICES MUST BE ARRANGED GEOGRAPHICALLY SO THAT ALL AREAS ARE COVERED, AND FINANCIAL MEANS AND PERSONNEL MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAMS. THE COUNSELORS MUST BE CAPABLE OF PLANNING, GATHERING, AND PROCESSING INFORMATION, HANDLING PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK INCLUDING NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND UNDERSTANDING THE POSSIBILITIES OF BOTH PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK AND TECHNICAL SECURITY DEVICES. ESSENTIAL COUNSELOR CHARACTERISTICS ARE CREATIVITY, ARTICULATENESS, AND IMAGINATION. TRAINING OF SUCH COUNSELING EXPERTS SHOULD RELATE TO INFORMATION (ESTABLISHMENT OF REQUIREMENTS, GATHERING, EVALUATION, CHECKING, AND FEED-BACK); PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK (NEEDS ANALYSIS, CONSUMER PSYCHOLOGY, MARKETING, ADVERTISING, AND MEDIA USE); CREATIVITY TRAINING; PREVENTIVE CRIMINOLOGY (THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OFFENDERS AND VICTIMS), AS WELL AS FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO VICTIMIZATION; AND SECURITY TECHNOLOGY. THE NEED FOR A UNIFORM PLAN OF APPROACHING OPERATIONS IN ALL COUNSELING CENTERS IS STRESSED. TWO ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)