LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES - A CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP

• NCJ Number: 50880
• Journal: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1977) Pages: 211-215
• Author(s): B I CESNIK; M PULS; N PIERCE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Human Sciences Press
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NINTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SUICIDOLOGY, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 29-MAY 2, 1976

Annotation

STEPS TAKEN BY AN OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CENTER TO BUILD A STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ITS CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM AND COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THE PROGRAM HAS PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS ON DUTY 24 HOURS A DAY TO RESPOND ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY UPON REQUEST FROM OTHER COMMUNITY AGENTS. FOCUSING ON SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND THREATS, POTENTIAL INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATIONS, SEVERE FAMILY TROUBLE, AND PSYCHOTIC AND BORDERLINE PSYCHOTIC PERSONS, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES INTERVENTION, ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT PLANNING, LIMITED TREATMENT AND FOLLOWUP, AND REFERRAL FOR FURTHER TREATMENT WHEN NECESSARY. ONE-THIRD OF THE PROGRAM'S 150 NEW REFERRALS EACH MONTH ARE FROM POLICE AGENCIES. POLICE MANAGEMENT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING AND DESIGN PHASES OF THE CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM. PROGRAM WORKERS' TRAINING INCLUDED RIDES WITH POLICE OFFICERS ON PATROL DUTY. OFFICERS WITH EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN CRISIS INTERVENTION WERE RECRUITED AS TRAINERS FOR PROGRAM STAFF. MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS TEAM PRESENTED A SEMINAR ON HOW TO HANDLE PERSONS ARMED WITH GUNS. DURING THE TRAINING PERIOD, PROGRAM WORKERS MADE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO DEVELOP POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS. IN ADDITION, THE OFFICERS WERE PROVIDED WITH WRITTEN EXPLANATIONS OF THE CRISIS PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVES, PROCEDURES, AND LIMITATIONS. THE PROGRAM HAS A POLICY OF READY AND OPEN ACCEPTANCE OF ALL POLICE REFERRALS, AND PAYS CLOSE ATTENTION TO INITIAL RESPONSE TIME FOR POLICE REFERRALS. FEEDBACK IS PROVIDED TO REFERRING OFFICERS AND THEIR SUPERVISORS ON ALL REFERRALS. THE PROGRAM OFFERS PRESERVICE AND INSERVICE TRAINING IN CRISIS INTERVENTION FOR POLICE OFFICERS. LETTERS ARE WRITTEN TO SUPERVISORS COMMENDING OFFICERS FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN HANDLING CRISIS SITUATIONS. THE SOCIAL SERVICE COORDINATOR, A COMMISSIONED POLICE OFFICER WHO PROVIDES LIAISON BETWEEN POLICE AND THE CRISIS PROGRAM, HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN MAINTAINING THE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP THAT WAS DEVELOPED IN THE PROGRAM'S PLANNING AND TRAINING PHASES. (LKM)