CITY OF WEST HAVEN, 
      CT
Mayor H. Richard Borer, 
      Jr. 

      
Community Policing to 
      Combat Domestic Violence Grant
The West Haven Community 
      Policing to Combat Violence program is funded under a U.S. Department of 
      Justice grant, with the purpose of providing a community policing approach 
      to domestic violence issues. This is accomplished by providing additional 
      services to the communities of West Haven, East Haven and Branford through 
      their police departments working collaboratively with Domestic Violence 
      Services of Greater New Haven -- a private, non-profit, social service 
      program for victims of domestic violence. The federal grant provides the 
      funding for the hiring of personnel and consultants to address the 
      concerns and needs of victims and their families.

    
There are several 
      objectives for the program including:       
    
      
  • Services such as 
        counseling, crisis intervention, problem-solving and general assistance 
        provided to victims of domestic violence; 
      
  • A safe meeting house for 
        counselor/advocates and victims since officers have been established at 
        the three police departments involved; 
      
  • The strengthening of the 
        public's perception of police as problem solvers, as well as 
        strengthening police/community relations; 
      
  • Providing follow-up 
        support by victim advocates to the victim during the court process; 
        
      
  • Providing police with an 
        additional resource for victim referrals; 
      
  • Providing police with a 
        consultant regarding domestic violence issues; 
      
  • Providing service 7 days 
        a week to victims of domestic violence; and 
      
  • Improving the exchange 
        of information throughout the criminal justice system and social service 
        agencies.            
         
    • 
    

    
Each department has a 
      full-time counselor/advocate stationed at their stations.         

    
This program will be 
      evaluated for its effectiveness through process evaluations and outcome 
      evaluations. The outcome evaluations will be done by client and officer 
      satisfaction surveys. A consultant will be hired to create two separate 
      surveys. The number of cases handled by the counselor/advocate will be 
      another measure of success. The counselor/advocates will maintain a daily 
      log and these will be compiled on monthly reports. Comparative analysis 
      can be done on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.           
               
                
                 
                
                

    
The federal grant, in the 
      amount of $180,305, supports the three officers overseeing the program 
      (one per department), as well as four civilian employees. Officers from 
      all departments can utilize the program resources.            
                 
         

    
CONTACT: Sgt. Colleen Smullen, P.O. Box 399, 
      355 Main Street, West Haven, CT 06516, Telephone - (203) 937-3914, Fax - 
      (203) 937-3700.          
              

    
 

      
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