JBWS (Jersey Battered Women's Service), in conjunction with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, established the Domestic Violence Crisis Response Team in April 1997. Each CRT consists of a group of volunteers who provide information and emotional assistance for victims immediately following a police response to a domestic violence call. Domestic violence response teams are operating in all police departments throughout the County, and their assistance has been imperative in strengthening and diversifying victims' support systems.

Studies demonstrate that many victims of domestic violence will return to their abusers if they are provided with little or no support. Police officers provide protection to victims of domestic violence by arresting and processing the batterer while volunteers help the victim to fell less isolated and alone. Since individuals are more responsive to intervention in times of crisis, CRT volunteers respond to the police department to provide emotional support, education on domestic violence, community resources and a safety plan. All victims are offered a follow-up contact by JBWS.

Teams are composed of trained citizens who serve as volunteers of their local police departments. All volunteers go through a rigorous screening process followed by an intensive 40-hours of training. Upon successful completion of the CRT training component, volunteers are on-call to their assigned police departments. Additionally, individual supervision is provided to volunteers by JBWS within twenty-four (24) hours of their call-out.

The goals of the CRT are to:

1. Decrease the emotional trauma experience by victims - by providing the victim with an opportunity to express her emotional response to the crisis and educating her about the dynamics of domestic violence.
   
   
2. Increase a victim's ability to make an educated decision about her options - by increasing the victims' awareness of available community resources and legal options and her understanding of the legal process.
   
   
3. To increase the victim's access to community resources - by providing the victims with the necessary information to access available community resources and assisting her in contacting those resources.