Historical September 1981 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Crime . . the word reaches out and grabs you.
The reality reaches out and drains a neighborhood physically, economically and spiritually. Chances are there was a crime on your block during the last month. You may have discussed the crime with your neighbor, the victim — what was stolen, when it happened, how they broke in, damage to the house, how long it took for the police to arrive, etc. Crime details exhausted, you went your way with a helpless feeling, thinking, “Wish I could have done something to help!” Now, there is an answer to your query, the Good Samaritan Network, a new neighbor-to-neighbor approach to the problem of victimization being organized by Aid for Victims of Crime, Inc. (AVC) here in the Seventh District.
The Good Samaritan Network will train neighbors to respond more effectively to assist in times of victimization. Victims will be linked with specially trained, neighborhood-based citizen corps, and other helping organizations through a telephone hotline.
This hotline will have direct contact with the victim via the police located at the scene of the crime.
The Good Samaritan Network will mesh with services now being provided through the Magdala Foundation’s Crisis intervention Program (C.I.P.).
The C.I.P., based in the Seventh District Station. tries to relieve matters like family disturbances and aiding crime victims by taking referrals directly from the police officer at the scene of the disturbance or crime.
By meshing with Magdala’s C.I.P., Aid for Victims of Crime will have direct and immediate contact with victims via police referrals. Under the Network approach, victims will then be linked with neighbors (Good Samaritans), who have been trained by AVC to respond to their neighbor who has been victimized.
The following is an example of how the network can function.
The victim is a 68-year-old widow, living alone.
Her front door has been smashed in and it’s three in the morning. She’s afraid and can’t sleep because her home is not secure.
The Network would contact a neighbor in the Emergency Repair Corps, who would go by and secure the door for the night.
The next day, the Senior Home Security Program, which has agreed to join the Network, would be contacted.
A work crew would be sent to do permanent repairs.
The Good Samaritan Network offers a variety of citizen (volunteer) corps opportunities for anyone in our community who wants to learn how to be a more effective neighbor in time of victimization, from home repair to transportation, from professional services to criminal justice advocates and “hotline” phone counseling. Honorary Chairmen supporting the Good Samaritan Network are Archbishop John L. May, Archbishop, Catholic Diocese of Saint Louis; Bishop William Jones, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri; Dr. John N. Doggett, Jr., District Superintendent, St. Louis North District, United Methodist Church; Mr. William Douthit, President, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis; Rev. Evlyn Fulton, Executive Presbyter, Elijah Parish Lovejoy Presbytery; Rabbi Robert Jacob, St. Louis Rabbinical Association; Mr. William Webster, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Anyone wishing more information on how to become a Good Samaritan can call Ed Stout, 531-2597, or attend a special orientation meeting for Seventh District residents to be held at Saint Roch’s Church, Scariot Hall, Waterman and Rosedale, Monday, August 31, at 7:30 p.m. Co-sponsoring the meeting with Aid For Victims Of Crime, Inc. (AVC) are Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council, Rosedale Neighbors Association, Delmar Baptist Church, Saint Roch’s, West Cabanne Place Association, Northwest Neighborhood Service Organization, Hamilton Place Neighborhood Association, Washington Heights Neighbors, Lexington School PTA, West Presbyterian Church, Saint Louis University Law School, the Saint Louis Public School, and the Thornby Place Association.
Original photograph caption
Ed Stout (left), Executive Director of Aid For Victims of Crime, Inc. (AVC), and Administrative Assistant Patricia Gladney review the Good Samaritan Network workplan. The Paper, September 1981, page 1. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Paper, September 1981.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1981_09.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 8; PDF page(s) 1, 8.
