ECPO offers domestic violence training

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office will again offer a domestic violence training program this fall. Called “Sanctuary,” the program is a 100-hour training program designed to equip community residents to provide crisis intervention and outreach services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking and family members of domestic violence homicides.

The course is presented in two formats: basic and advanced. Upon completion of the basic course — 70 hours — and the advanced course — 30 hours — volunteers who are members of local churches, mosques, synagogues, municipal police departments and their response teams, social service and emergency agencies, fraternal organizations, and other allied organizations located in greater Essex County will be able to provide immediate, culturally sensitive outreach to domestic violence victims and survivors and their families within a 24- to 72-hour period.

The basic course will begin on Thursday, Oct. 19. Each session will meet for three hours hours from 6 to 9 p.m. The advanced course will begin in the spring on a date yet to be determined. You must complete the basic course or have completed no less than 40 hours of domestic violence training to attend the advanced course. Both courses are offered free of charge.

Application packets are available online at www.njecpo.org — click on the “What’s New” tab or “Victim-Witness Services” tab and click on “Program Announcements.” Return the application packet with all necessary signatures and notarized to [email protected] by Oct. 12. For more information, call 973-621-4689 during normal business hours.

  Domestic Violence, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office