When the police receive a domestic violence assault call, they contact the on-call Rapid Response Team victim advocate. Once police have arrested the batterer, they encourage the victim to come to the police station to meet with the volunteer advocate and to obtain an emergency restraining order. The advocate provides direct, non-threatening crisis intervention, when victims are most vulnerable and often when other agencies are closed. Rapid Response Teams currently serve the Massachusetts towns of Salisbury and Georgetown. With the Rapid Response Team the standards of successful intervention have risen dramatically.
Police officers have a better understanding of domestic violence and the needs of the victims.
The Women's Crisis Center staff and advocates are more knowledgeable about police procedures and better able to assist clients. The Rapid Response Team ensures that comprehensive family services are offered and that victims receive follow-up calls to help them move forward and make a positive change. Since the formation of the Rapid Response Team in September 1996, the Salisbury police report a dramatic reduction in the number of repeat calls from homes where domestic violence situations occurred weekly. This program is from the Drucker Nonprofit Innovation Discovery Site. The leadership, competence, and management of the social sector nonprofit organization will largely determine the values, the vision, the cohesion, and the performance of the 21st century society.