Sheriff to Expand Abuse Victim Outreach

With U.S. Department of Justice funds, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is expanding its outreach efforts to victims of domestic violence, officials said Wednesday.

Sheriff Sherman Block announced that, starting in January, specially trained deputies and county mental health workers will be dispatched to the homes of domestic violence victims. Team members will counsel the victims and put them in touch with shelters and other support services.

The six-month, $350,000 pilot program will be centered in the communities served by the sheriff’s Lancaster, Industry and Carson stations. As part of the project, deputies will also have access to a computer program, developed by a consultant who specializes in evaluating the severity of threats against judges and elected officials, to run risk assessments on victims of domestic violence.