Note
Cover title.
"June 2010"--Cover.
"The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) would like to acknowledge the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), JEHT Foundation, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) for their support of the Improving Police Response to Persons with Mental Illness Summit and the completion of this report."--Acknowlegements.
Summary
"While law
enforcement officers have the duty to arrest anyone who is breaking the law, it is critical for the officer
responding to a mental health call to have the information needed to adequately assess the situation
and the support required so that a determination of appropriate action can be made in the best interests
of the subject, the officer, and the public.
This report outlines the scope of the problem, identifies factors that have contributed to current challenges
and describes innovative policies, programs and practices that have emerged in recent years to provide
a foundation of this blueprint for change. These promising approaches offer safer, more compassionate
and often cost-effective ways for police and their community partners to respond to adults and juveniles
with mental illness. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these new approaches depends on the strength of
the collaborative working relationships on which they are founded and on the willingness of states and
localities to invest in providing a continuum of education and training for first responders and effective
services and supports for persons with mental illness and their families."--Page 2.
Contents
1. Executive summary -- 2. Summit background and goals -- 3.
Issues and opportunities -- 3.1.
People with mental illness involved in the justice system -- 3.2.
Causes of the overrepresentation of people with mental illness in the justice system -- 3.3.
Promising directions -- 3.3.1.
Crisis intervention teams (CIT) -- 3.3.2.
Law enforcement and mental health co-responder teams -- 3.3.3.
Assertive community treatment (ACT) approaches -- 3.3.4.
Mental health consumer-driven services -- 3.3.5.
Jail and prison reentry programs -- 3.3.6.
Federally funded initiatives -- 4.
Summit recommendations -- 4.1.
Improving quality and accessibility of mental health services recommendations -- 4.2.
Community-wide collaboration recommendations -- 4.3.
Justice system decision point recommendations -- 4.3.1.
Law enforcement crisis intervention strategies -- 4.3.2.
Post-arrest diversion recommendations -- 4.3.3.
Reentry from jail, prison, or juvenile justice facilities -- 4.3.4.
Legislative, funding, and technical assistance support -- 5.
Law enforcement action agenda -- 6.
Glossary of terms -- 7.
Summit participants.