FAMILY CRISIS TRAINING - UPGRADING THE POLICE WHILE BUILDING A BRIDGE TO THE MINORITY COMMUNITY (FROM POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, 1973-1974, V 2, 1975 BY JAMES T CURRAN AND RICHARD H WARD - SEE NCJ-28138)

• NCJ Number: 31892
• Author(s): M KATZ
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: AMS Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE RATIONALE BEHIND A FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING PROGRAM IS EXAMINED, AND THE SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES UTILIZED IN THE LOWELL (MA) TRAINING PROGRAM ARE OUTLINED.

Abstract

EFFORTS AT IMPROVING POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS MAY FAIL AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF SUCH PROGRAMS TO CHANGE POLICE ATTITUDES AND ADEQUATELY TRAIN OFFICERS IN USEFUL TECHNIQUES. THE LOWELL FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED WITH TWO PURPOSES IN MIND: TO PROVIDE POLICE WITH THE SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES TO SUCCESSFULLY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY RESOLVE INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS; AND TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF POLICE BY THEIR SUCCESSFUL RELATIONS WITH CITIZENS IN A NON-CRIMINAL SITUATION. IT WAS ALSO HOPED THAT POLICE TRAINED IN FAMILY CRISIS TECHNIQUES COULD DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND REDUCE THE HIGH RATES OF RECIDIVISM FOR FAMILY CONFLICT SITUATIONS. THE LOWELL TRAINING PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO TRAIN TEN OFFICERS. THE PROGRAM FIRST OFFERED AN INTENSIVE PERIOD OF TRAINING, WHICH UTILIZED DISCUSSIONS, ROLE PLAYING, VIDEOTAPES, AND GROUP PARTICIPATION TO TEACH THE BASIC SKILLS NEEDED FOR FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION. THE SECOND PHASE BEGAN ONCE THE OFFICERS RETURNED TO DUTY, AND CONSISTED OF BI-WEEKLY FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS OF THE TRAINERS AND THE OFFICERS FOR 26 WEEKS. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING TRAINING TECHNIQUES AND DEPARTMENT-WIDE TRAINING ARE INCLUDED.