The Voorhees Police Department is looking for volunteers for its Domestic Violence Response Team. Members would assist victims of domestic violence by providing comfort, guidance and information.
According to Voorhees Police Lt. Dennis Ober, there are nine volunteers currently signed up to be volunteers. The program has been active in Voorhees since 1999 and called the Crisis Intervention Team.
“Usually women dealing with domestic violence dial 911, and they are not sure what to do. We sit them down with an advocate or volunteer,” Ober said.
A local coordinator helps run the initiative, securing the proper paperwork for volunteers, background checks and training on policies and procedures. The local coordinator reports to the county coordinator at the Camden County Women’s Center, Ober said.
Volunteers would assist with court paperwork and financial and housing concerns and act as a support system, pointing victims in the right direction.
According to Ober, there are many levels of domestic violence. Many go unreported.
“Most don’t know where to turn,” he said.
In 2011, there were 70,311 domestic violence offenses reported in the state, 42 percent of which were assaults. Arrests were made in 31 percent of cases, according to the state police’s Domestic Violence Statistical Summary report.
Volunteers are also asked to be available on nights and weekends since domestic violence incidents occur more frequently later in the day and on weekends, Ober said.
In the state’s 2011 report, 26 percent, or 18,074 offenses, were reported between 8 p.m. and midnight, and Sunday was recorded as the highest number of occurrences with 12,096 offenses.
“It’s a shoulder to cry on,” he said.
Volunteers cover 24-hour time slots so officers are able to call a volunteer at any hour, he said.
Uniformed officers might be intimidating to women in these situations.
“A lot of the time women are more comfortable talking to other women,” Ober said, adding most volunteers are women.
Patrolmen are also trained on how to handle domestic violence situations.
Ober said county coordinator Nancy Hutchinson trains the officers, making sure they are up to date and answering any questions they might have regarding these cases.
“It alleviates all of the guess work and makes sure everyone is giving out the right information to victims,” Ober said.
All volunteers must be 18 years or older and pass a background check.
For more information on how to become a volunteer, email Ober at dober@vtpd.com
The Camden County Women’s Center also has a domestic violence hotline, (856) 227–1234.
For more information visit www.camdencountywomenscenter.org.
