Domestic violence response team seeks new members
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

MARLBORO - The Marlboro Police Department is seeking volunteers from the community to join the Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT).

The volunteers who join the team will respond to police headquarters when there has been an incident of domestic abuse. Police administrators will offer the victim a chance to speak with a member of the DVRT. The volunteers speak with the victim and let him or her know what options are available, according to Lt. Douglas Van Note.

"They work on the human aspect while we take care of the criminal end," Van Note said.

Sue Levine is the DVRT coordinator with 180-Turning Lives Around, Hazlet, which partners with local police departments to organize the response teams.

"Volunteers are trained in domestic violence crisis intervention and advocacy," Levine said, adding that the teams are a state mandated program and team members are actually volunteers of 180-Turning Lives Around.

The DVRT program in Marlboro was enacted during the summer of 2000 Levine noted.

"These people are planting the seeds of safety with the victims," Levine explained.

The volunteer advocates are trained to empower the victims of domestic violence to make decisions about their own lives, according to a press release from the Marlboro police.

The identities of volunteers and victims are kept confidential as the program is based on safety for all of those involved, according to Levine.

Levine expressed how helpful the Marlboro Police Department is with the DVRT program. She said Marlboro police have been influential in setting the standards of safety for the individuals who come to police headquarters in domestic violence situations.

It is not just victims who can speak with DRVT members. Friends, relatives and supporters of the victim can go to police headquarters at any time to meet with team members and discuss options, Levine said.

At present the Marlboro DVRT has 17 members. A volunteer is on call at all times. Applicants must be 18 years old or older, have access to transportation, possess a valid driver's license, be willing to serve on an on-call shift basis and submit to a background investigation. When oncall, a volunteer must be within 20 minutes of police headquarters.

There is a 40-hour mandatory training course which will be provided by 180- Turning Lives Around to successful applicants. The course will run from April 28 through May 22, 2008 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at the Monmouth County Police Academy, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township.

Prior knowledge of domestic violence is not required. Monmouth County's police departments and 180-Turning Lives Around are committed to culturally diverse teams to better serve the community, therefore bilingual ability is a plus.

To request an application contact Lt. Douglas Van Note at (732) 617-0186.