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POLICE INTERVENTION INTO FAMILY CRISIS - THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN FAMILY PROBLEMS

NCJ Number
15241
Author(s)
A R COFFEY
Date Published
1974
Length
191 pages
Annotation
THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ANALYSIS OF FAMILY CRISES IS PRESENTED AND ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS ARE SUGGESTED IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT. DECISIONS ON DEFENDANT'S RIGHTS DURING LINE-UPS.
Abstract
THE STATUS OF THE POLICE OFFICER'S ROLE IS NO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OCCUPATIONAL ROLES IN THAT THEY ARE ALL CONSTANTLY CHANGING IN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK FROM THE MANY DIVERSE SOCIETAL ELEMENTS. ALTHOUGH FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION IS NOT THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE POLICE ROLE, IT MAY BE THE MOST DRAMATIC. HISTORICALLY, THE POLICE HAVE BEEN MORE CONCERNED WITH TREATING THE SYMPTOMS THAN THE DISEASE. NOW, HOWEVER, THE POLICE ROLE IS BEING MODIFIED TO INSURE THAT POLICE CONTACT WITH A FAMILY DISTURBANCE RESOLVES MORE THAN THE DISTURBANCE. THE MAJOR JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS TREND IS THE FACT THAT ONLY THE POLICE SYSTEMATICALLY AND CONSISTENTLY REACH FAMILY CRISES SEVERE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE INTERVENTION, AND, SIGNIFICANTLY, REACH A CRISIS WHILE IT IS STILL A CRISIS. THE POLICEMAN WHO READS THIS BOOK IS NOT MERELY TOLD WHAT TO DO IN A PARTICULAR SITUATION. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT LEND ITSELF THAT EASILY TO A 'BLACK AND WHITE' ANALYSIS. RATHER, HE IS TAUGHT HOW TO ANALYZE THE PROBLEM AND TO CHOOSE THE MOST APPROPRIATE OF A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVES. POLICE INTERVENTION INTO FAMILY CRISIS IS ORGANIZED, WITH THE MAJOR POINTS OF EMPHASIS AND KEY WORDS PRINTED IN BOLD-FACE CAPITAL LETTERS FOR EASY REFERENCE AND RETENTION. EACH CHAPTER IS SUMMARIZED AND PROVIDED WITH A LIST OF DISCUSSION TOPICS THAT ADEQUATELY REPRESENTS THE CONTENT AND CONCEPTS PRESENTED THEREIN. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)