MARIN COUNTY (CA) VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND FAMILY INTERVENTION PROJECT - PROJECT NUMBER 1488 - 1ST YEAR EVALUATION REPORT, SEPTEMBER 30, 1974

• NCJ Number: 16697
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 95 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: California Council on Criminal Justice
• Corporate Author: Marin Cty Criminal Justice Planning Agency
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM TO INTEGRATE AND COORDINATE RESOURCES OF MENTAL HEALTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING TO TRAIN POLICE IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT.

Abstract

SIX POLICE OFFICERS WERE TRAINED AS SPECIALISTS IN THE SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND FAMILY INTERVENTION. NEW ADMISSION PROCEDURES WERE DEVELOPED FOR USE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ADMIT MENTALLY DISTURBED PERSONS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER. A PLAN WAS DESIGNED FOR A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TO WORK WITH POLICE PERSONNEL IN THE FIELD, AND AN INDEX OF REFERRAL SERVICES WAS DEVELOPED FOR USE BY THE POLICE. THE EVALUATION COMPONENTS INCLUDED DATA GATHERING, REFERRAL FOLLOW-UP, PROGRAM MONITORING, AND STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES. THE NUMBER OF FAMILY INTERVENTION ARRESTS WAS REDUCED MORE THAN 10 PERCENT IN ONE YEAR, USING THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS AS A BASELINE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVES TO ARREST WAS DEEMED THE MAJOR REASON FOR ARREST REDUCTIONS. PROBLEMS THAT EVOLVED WERE EFFECTIVELY RESOLVED, AND THE PROGRAM WAS CONSIDERED GENERALLY SUCCESSFUL.