LAS VEGAS – SafeNest and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) announced the expansion of Project Safe 417 (PS417) to all 10 LVMPD Command Centers effective today, February 24, 2020. Named after the LVMPD “417” code for domestic violence, PS417 is designed to bridge the gap between LVMPD officer response to the time when a victim/survivor receives crisis services, advocacy and support.
Launched in December 2017 at LVMPD’s Northwest Area Command Center (NWAC), PS 417, reports successful outcomes. In the program’s first year, domestic violence-related homicides at NWAC dropped from six in 2017 to one in 2018 and 92 percent of the time there were no recurring reports of domestic violence when a PS417 first responder was utilized.
“Program results have shown that early intervention with a victim is making an impact,” said Liz Ortenburger, SafeNest CEO. “We’ve been working diligently to streamline our hotline process and staff up in preparation for the citywide expansion. We’re ready to take PS417 to the next level and save more lives.”
The PS417 process starts when LVMPD receives a domestic violence call for help. LVMPD alerts the SafeNest 24/7 crisis hotline to request support from SafeNest’s specially trained first response volunteer advocates. Last year, SafeNest first responders answered 765 PS417 calls, providing 718 clients with multiple services including confidential shelter, counseling, court advocacy and/or emergency protection orders.
SafeNest PS417 first response advocates will be available daily between 5:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. All SafeNest volunteers must complete 21 hours of mandatory domestic violence core advocacy training. Following core training, volunteers must complete 20 hours of shadowing on the 24/7 crisis hotline. First response volunteer advocates must complete an additional six hours of specialized, trauma-informed training and commit to a minimum of three (3) four-hour shifts per month.
“The expansion of the partnership program with SafeNest is a testament to the commitment this community has to combating domestic violence” said Deputy Chief John McGrath, who oversees Metro’s Office of Community Engagement. “With more area commands now using this protocol we are hopeful we will be able to get more women out of dangerous situations and ultimately save lives.”
ABOUT SAFENEST
SafeNest, established in 1977, is Nevada’s largest and most comprehensive nonprofit agency dedicated to ending domestic violence in Clark County. Since opening our doors in 1977, SafeNest has answered over 500,000 crisis calls and sheltered over 20,000 families impacted by domestic violence. For more information, call Laurie Cody, Vice President of Development & Marketing at 702-821-2731 or 512-423-8857.