[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Caldwell 9-25-2001 by Ord. No. 1105-01. Amendments noted where applicable.]
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 dealing with domestic violence cases. On January 18, 2000, the participation in a Domestic Violence Response Team (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 Response 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 Response 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 the State of New Jersey. All team members shall serve without compensation. Interested persons shall complete an application form supplied by the Borough, be fingerprinted by the Police Department and are subject to a background check. Members of the team shall be appointed by resolution of the Borough Council upon recommendation of the Mayor. The Borough Council shall also by resolution and upon recommendation of the Mayor appoint certain team members as coordinators. All coordinators and other team members shall be supervised by the Police Department and shall serve at the discretion of the Borough 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 Mayor and Borough Council an annual report summarizing the activities of the team and any recommendations it sees fit to make.