VST volunteers provide crisis intervention and support to victims and their children immediately following a domestic violence incident. About five years ago, the Seattle Police Department and the City of Seattle started discussing the value of volunteers in assisting patrol officers responding to domestic violence calls. The Support Team was specifically created to address the gap in services that existed between the time the patrol officers responded to a call until the detectives, advocates, and prosecutors later contacted the victims. By being there to give support and address the crisis victim's social service needs, the VST can free patrol officers to focus on the criminal investigation and go on to the next 911 call. VST volunteers work in eight-hour weekend shifts, when domestic violence incidents are the most frequent and resources can be difficult for victims to access.
Volunteers work two to a team.
At the beginning of their shift they check in at the East precinct, then wait for a page from an officer. Once they receive the page, volunteers drive their unmarked police cars to the scene of the incident. Besides providing emotional support and domestic violence counseling, volunteers help victims by creating a safety plan, addressing basic needs such as food and clothing, and providing referrals to community agencies. Marilyn Thomas, a volunteer who started last April, has a Master's degree in counseling and had previously worked in Missouri with victims of violent crime. When you get the call, your mind is imagining all sorts of different scenes.