Chapter 266 of the Code of the Township of Cedar Grove is hereby established as set forth herein.
In 1991, the New Jersey Legislature passed the Prevention of Domestic
Violence Act of 1991, N.J.S.A. 2C:25-17 et seq. (the "Act"), having determined
that domestic violence is a serious crime against society with victims from
all social and economic backgrounds. Pursuant to the Act, crisis intervention
teams of trained residents can be formed to assist police authorities in dealing
with domestic violence cases. On January 18, 2000, the participation in a
DVRT was mandated by Bill No. A-2786. The West Essex DVRT will be a regional
effort with volunteers servicing the residents of Fairfield, Caldwell, Cedar
Grove, Essex Fells, North Caldwell, Verona and West Caldwell. The West Essex
Domestic Violence Intervention Team would assist victims of domestic violence
by providing information on available resources and referrals and acting as
a liaison with the police and other agencies, as appropriate.
There is hereby created the West Essex Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention
Team. The Team shall consist of an unlimited number of volunteers who shall
be at least 21 years of age and bona fide residents of New Jersey. All Team
members shall serve without compensation. Interested persons shall complete
an application form supplied by the Township, be fingerprinted by the Police
Department and subject to a background check. Members of the Team shall be
appointed by resolution of the Township Council. The Township Council shall
also by resolution appoint certain Team members as Coordinators. All Coordinators
and other Team members shall be supervised by the Police Department and shall
serve at the direction of the Township Council.
No person may serve as a Team member unless he/she shall have first
completed a forty-hour specialized training program as developed by the New
Jersey Division of Criminal Justice.
The functions and duties of the Team shall include, but not be limited
to:
A. Meeting with victims of domestic violence to provide
support, compassion and advice.
B. Providing information on available resources, appropriate
agencies, hotlines and the like and serving as a liaison with police and other
agencies as appropriate.
C. Such other functions and duties as may be established
by the Police Department.
The Police Department shall prepare and submit to the Township Council
an annual report summarizing the activities of the Team and any recommendations
it sees fit to make.