Improving Law Enforcement Response and Mental Health Services for Child Trauma Victims in North Carolina

摘要

Every year, the United States sees a significant number of children become victims or witnesses of violent crime. The evidence in the mental health literature demonstrates that children who are exposed to violence are at a heightened risk for behavioral and/or emotional problems. Officers who respond to violent crimes often encounter children on the scene, but historically they have not been trained to assist children with the immediate aftermath of trauma.In response to the need to provide safety and security to the families in Durham and citizens' increasing interest in how first responders meet the community's needs, the Durham Police Department (DPD) has partnered with mental health professionals to provide a more comprehensive response to violent crime.