IN PSYCHOLOGICAL TERMS, A PERSON FACES A CRISIS WHEN HE OR SHE ENCOUNTERS PROBLEMS FOR WHICH NO SOLUTIONS ARE READILY EVIDENT. CRISES MAY DEVELOP FROM PARTICULAR LIVING SITUATIONS OR FROM CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES. WHEN EITHER SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES DISURB AN INDIVIDUAL'S EQUILIBRIUM, A NEW EQUILIBRIUM MUST BE ESTABLISHED. WITHOUT VIABLE SOLUTIONS, HOWEVER, THE INDIVIDUAL MAY REMAIN STUCK BETWEEN STAGES OF EQUILIBRIUM. THE INDIVIDUAL'S CRISIS MAY CREATE TENSIONS AND OVERSENSITIVITY IN HIS RELATIONS WITH OTHERS. THE CONCEPT OF CRISIS INTERVENTION HAS DEVELOPED SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR. CRISIS INTERVENTION IS THE ATTEMPT OF AN OUTSIDER TO OFFER ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO A PERSON IN CRISIS. THE MOST EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION IS PROVIDED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVERYDAY CONTACT WITH THE TROUBLED INDIVIDUAL AND SEEK TO HELP HIM OR HER FIND SOLUTIONS, SOMETIMES JUST BY LISTENING. NONSPECIALISTS SHOULD, HOWEVER, LEARN THE DISCUSSION TECHNIQUES NECESSARY TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. CRISES WITHIN FAMILIES ARE COMMON: CHILDREN MAY EVEN LEAVE HOME TO ESCAPE BEING USED AS SCAPEGOATS FOR THEIR PARENTS' PROBLEMS. HERE, TOO, NONPROFESSIONALS MAY BE VERY HELPFUL IN MAKING VARIOUS FAMILY MEMBERS UNDERSTAND EACH OTHERS' POINTS OF VIEW. FAMILY CRISES ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE PRECIPITATED ON WEEKENDS WHEN ASSISTANCE AGENCIES ARE CLOSED. THE POLICE ARE FREQUENTLY CALLED IN ON SUCH CASES BECAUSE POLICE ARE AVAILABLE AROUND THE CLOCK, CAN GO TO THE SCENE OF THE DISPUTE IMMEDIATELY, AND CAN OFTEN PREVENT A SERIOUS CRIME FROM OCCURRING. WHILE OFFICERS SHOULD BE TRAINED TO DEAL WITH FAMILY CRISIS SITUATIONS IN BOTH REPRESSIVE AND PREVENTIVE CONTEXTS, THE POLICE MUST NOT BECOME A PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTING AGENCY, AND THE TIME SPENT IN FAMILY ASSISTANCE MUST NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PRIVATE LIVES OF OFFICERS. NOTES ARE SUPPLIED. SEE NCJ 65567 AND 65568 FOR PARTS TWO AND THREE.