CopShock: Second Edition
Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
by Allen R. Kates, MFAW, BCECR
Assault
Support services generally focus on citizens, not individuals who place themselves in harm’s way as part of their job. But aren’t assaulted peace officers survivors of crime? Shouldn’t they receive support from the same sources as citizens? The saying that police agencies look after their own is not always true.
And what should the families of assaulted police officers do for their loved ones? How do wives, husbands, children and parents of officers cope with the aftermath? Many police websites offer comfort to officers and their families, but civilian sites also offer effective support, despite referring to survivors as “victims.” The first place to look for help is in the telephone book under Victim Services.
National Center for Victims of Crime
(NCVC)
One of the
most comprehensive websites for help and resources.
Go to: http://www.ncvc.org/. Write:
Victim Services, NCVC, 2000 “M” Street, NW, Suite 480, Washington, DC 20036. For
referral to local resources, call toll-free:
800-394-2255.
National Crime Victim Hotline
Numbers
This website
provides telephone numbers for most U.S. states that offer crime victim
compensation for such things as medical expenses, lost wages, funeral costs,
psychological counseling and childcare.
Go to:
http://http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/help/numb.htm and
http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/findvictimservices.
National Crime Victim’s Research and Treatment
Center (NCVRTC)
The
NCVRTC provides scientific research, treatment, professional education and
consultation. Its clinical services offer care to adult and child victims of
violent crime and their families.
Go to: http://colleges.musc.edu/ncvc/. Write:
NCVRTC, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical
University of South
Carolina, 165 Cannon Street, PO Box 250852, Charleston, SC 29425. Phone:
843-792-2945.
National Organization for Victim Assistance
(NOVA)
NOVA provides
services for survivors of crime and disaster. Its crisis resources provide many
hotlines for information, comfort and aid concerning domestic violence,
survivors of crime, child abuse, rape and violence against
women.
Go to: http://www.trynova.org. Write: NOVA, 510 King
Street, Suite 424, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: 703-535-232-6682. Crisis
Hotline: 800-879-6682.
Victim Services (VS)—Safe Horizon
Although focused on New York, this large site
provides articles about assault and other crimes as well as information on
services that may be available in other communities. Its many valuable links
cover such areas as crime victim issues, stranger assault, child abuse, domestic
violence and families of homicide victims.
Go to: http://www.victimservices.org and www.safehorizon.org. Write: Victim
Services, 2 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10007. Phone: 212-577-7700. NY Crime
Victims Hotline: 212-577-7777. NY Domestic Violence Hot-line:
800-621-4673.