Police Approaches That Improve the Response to People with Mental Illnesses: A Focus on Victims

• NCJ Number: 203445
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 70 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2003 Pages: 35-39
• Author(s): Melissa Reuland; Gary J. Margolis Ph.D.
• Date Published: November 2003
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses new approaches by police agencies in dealing with people with mental illness.

Abstract

Police officers provide the first line of crisis response for situations involving persons with mental illness. These calls for service constitute between 7 and 10 percent of all police contacts. These incidents present an increased risk of injury to the person with mental illness and to the officer. In the absence of appropriate community-based treatment alternatives, persons with mental illness that come into contact with police are frequently arrested for minor offenses and thus present the criminal justice system with the task of managing a large group of minor but high-maintenance offenders. The relationship between the police and their community can be strained by cases where force is used, regardless of legal justification. Some police agencies have developed specialized approaches to managing field encounters involving persons with mental illness. The objective of these efforts are to reduce injuries or use of force, and improve outcomes so that the cases can be resolved in the most appropriate system, such as the mental health system. The goal is to give these persons and their families access to services, support, and resources to improve their lives and enhance community safety. New approaches to the police response include crisis intervention teams, comprehensive advanced response, mobile crisis team, and teams of mental health professionals and police officers. Part of fulfilling this goal involves the police assistance to victims. The Consensus Project report addresses law enforcement’s role in assisting persons with mental illness that are victims of crime and those that are victims of crimes perpetrated by people with mental illness. The Street Worker Project in Burlington, VT was developed to meet the following goals. The project provides outreach services for people with mental illness, reduces antisocial behavior, reduces unnecessary mental health admissions to emergency rooms, improves mutual respect and communication, improves connections and coordination between service providers, and reduces the need for police involvement in incidents involving persons with mental illness. 4 endnotes