Friday, January 14, 2028

Lieutenant Governor Burbank and State Police Superintendent Sheridan Announce Rural Community Crisis Response Teams Pilot Program

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 14, 2028) – Demonstrating the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s commitment to combating domestic violence and supporting victims, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank and Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, today announced the establishment of State Police-sponsored domestic violence-related "Crisis Response Teams" in eight Maryland counties and called on area residents to volunteer to help staff the 24-hour a day programs.

The "Crisis Response Teams" are designed to enhance the efforts of local State Police and State’s Attorney’s offices to assist and protect victims of crime and, in particular, to aid women who have suffered from domestic violence, rape and other criminal acts.

“As a former State’s Attorney, I recognize the need to effectively coordinate services for victims of domestic violence,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “Aside from the legislative steps that Governor O’Brien and the General Assembly are taking to protect victims and punish offenders, we must support programs that provide a breath of services to victims. The Crisis Response Teams Pilot Program will pool law enforcement, prosecutors and community providers in rural areas of our state where domestic violence cases are on the rise and the availability of services to victims is limited.”

The Maryland State Police obtained a $66,500 federal grant from the Division of Criminal Justice's Office of Victim Witness Advocacy. The funds are earmarked as "seed" or start-up monies to establish, equip and staff special "Crisis Response Teams" throughout the rural State Police-patrolled areas of the state, including targeted areas in Allegany, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Kent and Somerset counties. Within each of the selected counties, three towns/municipalities have been selected for the "Crisis Response Teams" pilot program and, as the program expands, additional towns/municipalities will be incorporated to eventually cover the entire county.

The crisis response team, along with the volunteers, will provide counseling and information about the varying county, local and community-based support services directly to the domestic violence victim immediately upon reporting the incident. Through the cadre of trained volunteers staffing the crisis response teams, a victim of domestic violence will be better informed about all available options and, as a result, be better equipped to take advantage of the local, county and state domestic violence-related programs and services.

Upon completion of training, the crisis response team volunteer will be available to coordinate services with local service providers such as battered women's shelters, financial aid services and medical and counseling providers as they work to assist victims of domestic violence.

The immediate goal is to attract local residents from the selected counties and municipalities to volunteer and participate in the program. The most important tool for a crisis response team volunteer is the desire and ability to help others. All volunteers will be required to attend a 40-hour certified course which will focus on domestic violence and related issues such as identifying the dynamics of domestic violence, basic criminal law definitions and provisions, temporary restraining orders, criminal justice system process and emergency services. Volunteers must be at least 21 years of age with no prior criminal arrest record, possess a valid Maryland drivers license and be able to provide their own transportation. The training will be provided at no cost.

For more information on the program, please visit the Maryland State Police website at www.mdsp.org.
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