From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Family Violence Program Effectiveness to be Studied
Organization: NDA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 10:12:06 GMT


Here is a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

 Family Violence Program Effectiveness to be Studied
 To: National Desk
 Contact: Stu Smith of the Office of Justice Programs,
          U.S. Department of Justice,
          202-307-0784 (office) or 301-983-9354 (after hours)

   WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Department of Justice
today announced the awarding of $208,825 to the Urban Institute, of
Washington, D.C., by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the
department's research and evaluation component, to conduct an
evaluation of the department's family violence training and
dissemination grants funded pursuant to the Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act.
   The statute mandates that training be made available for state and
local law enforcement officers to show them how to improve their
handling of spouse assault and other domestic violence cases.
   "The rights of all victims must be an integral part of the
criminal justice system," OJP Acting Assistant Attorney General
Steven D. Dillingham commented.  "Effectively dealing with domestic
violence is one of the department's most important goals.  It is
important for us to find out if these programs are working and how
they can be made more productive."
   This study will seek to determine if the programs improved the
knowledge and behavior of training participants, who are primarily
police officers, in their treatment of domestic violence victims.
   It will also determine if the projects achieved the needed changes
in state law and victims rights policies and fostered the
dissemination of information about family violence prevention.
   The family violence programs are administered by the department's
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
   OVC works to improve law enforcement responses to family violence.
Since 1986 OVC has dispersed more than $3.5 million in grants to
state and local agencies for training law enforcement policy makers
and officers in the most effective procedures for responding to
family violence issues.  During fiscal year 1992 OVC awarded $467,358
to state and local agencies.  A survey of the police departments that
have received training indicate that 78 percent changed their
policies after completing the training.  It is estimated that
programs funded to date affect a population of more than 100,000
people.
   "It is hoped that these programs will go a long way in bringing
justice to victims of domestic violence," Dillingham noted.
"Everyone who works in the criminal justice process must learn to
treat victims with greater dignity, compassion and understanding."
   Additional information about NIJ research and publications may be
obtained from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, Box
6000, Rockville, Md. 20850.  The telephone number is 1-301-251-5500.
The toll-free number is 1-800-851-3420.
 -30-

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