Psychiatr Serv 51:645-649, May 2000
© 2000 American Psychiatric Association
Comparing Outcomes of Major Models of Police Responses to Mental Health Emergencies
Henry J. Steadman, Ph.D.,
Martha Williams Deane, M.A.,
Randy Borum, Psy.D. and
Joseph P. Morrissey, Ph.D.
OBJECTIVE: The study compared three models of police responses to incidents involving people thought to have mental illnesses to determine how often specialized professionals responded and how often they were able to resolve cases without arrest. METHODS: Three study sites representing distinct approaches to police handling of incidents involving persons with mental illness were examined—Birmingham, Alabama; and Knoxville and Memphis, Tennessee. At each site, records were examined for approximately 100 police dispatch calls for "emotionally disturbed persons" to examine the extent to which the specially trained professionals responded. To determine differences in case dispositions, records were also examined for 100 incidents at each site that involved a specialized response. RESULTS: Large differences were found across sites in the proportion of calls that resulted in a specialized response—28 percent for Birmingham, 40 percent for Knoxville, and 95 percent for Memphis. One reason for the differences was the availability in Memphis of a crisis drop-off center for persons with mental illness that had a no-refusal policy for police cases. All three programs had relatively low arrest rates when a specialized response was made, 13 percent for Birmingham, 5 percent for Knoxville, and 2 percent for Memphis. Birmingham's program was most likely to resolve an incident on the scene, whereas Knoxville's program predominantly referred individuals to mental health specialists. CONCLUSIONS: Our data strongly suggest that collaborations between the criminal justice system, the mental health system, and the advocacy community plus essential services reduce the inappropriate use of U.S. jails to house persons with acute symptoms of mental illness.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
A. S. Tucker Psy. D., V. B. Van Hasselt PhD, and S. A. Russell
Law Enforcement Response to the Mentally Ill: An Evaluative Review
Brief. Treat. Crisis Interven.,
August 21, 2008;
(2008)
mhn014v1.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Oliva and M. T. Compton
A Statewide Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Initiative: Evolution of the Georgia CIT Program
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law,
March 1, 2008;
36(1):
38 - 46.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. T. Compton, M. Bahora, A. C. Watson, and J. R. Oliva
A Comprehensive Review of Extant Research on Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Programs
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law,
March 1, 2008;
36(1):
47 - 55.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. C. Watson and B. Angell
Applying Procedural Justice Theory to Law Enforcement's Response to Persons With Mental Illness
Psychiatr Serv,
June 1, 2007;
58(6):
787 - 793.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. R. Munetz, A. Morrison, J. Krake, B. Young, and Lt. M. Woody
State Mental Health Policy: Statewide Implementation of the Crisis Intervention Team Program: The Ohio Model
Psychiatr Serv,
November 1, 2006;
57(11):
1569 - 1571.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. T. Compton, M. L. Esterberg, R. McGee, R. J. Kotwicki, and J. R. Oliva
Brief Reports: Crisis Intervention Team Training: Changes in Knowledge, Attitudes, and Stigma Related to Schizophrenia
Psychiatr Serv,
August 1, 2006;
57(8):
1199 - 1202.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. L. S. Teller, M. R. Munetz, K. M. Gil, and C. Ritter
Crisis Intervention Team Training for Police Officers Responding to Mental Disturbance Calls
Psychiatr Serv,
February 1, 2006;
57(2):
232 - 237.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. S. Vermette, D. A. Pinals, and P. S. Appelbaum
Mental Health Training for Law Enforcement Professionals
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law,
March 1, 2005;
33(1):
42 - 46.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Price
Commentary: The Challenge of Training Police Officers
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law,
March 1, 2005;
33(1):
50 - 54.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Ruiz and C. Miller
An Exploratory Study of Pennsylvania Police Officers' Perceptions of Dangerousness and Their Ability to Manage Persons with Mental Illness
Police Quarterly,
September 1, 2004;
7(3):
359 - 371.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. M. Redondo and G. W. Currier
Emergency Psychiatry: Characteristics of Patients Referred by Police to a Psychiatric Emergency Service
Psychiatr Serv,
June 1, 2003;
54(6):
804 - 806.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Hails and R. Borum
Police Training and Specialized Approaches to Respond to People With Mental Illnesses
Crime Delinquency,
January 1, 2003;
49(1):
52 - 61.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. R. Lamb, L. E. Weinberger, and W. J. DeCuir Jr.
The Police and Mental Health
Psychiatr Serv,
October 1, 2002;
53(10):
1266 - 1271.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mental illness in my backyard
Can. Med. Assoc. J.,
April 1, 2001;
164(7):
957 - 957.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maladie mentale dans ma cour
Can. Med. Assoc. J.,
April 1, 2001;
164(7):
959 - 959.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. J. Steadman, K. A. Stainbrook, P. Griffin, J. Draine, R. Dupont, and C. Horey
A Specialized Crisis Response Site as a Core Element of Police-Based Diversion Programs
Psychiatr Serv,
February 1, 2001;
52(2):
219 - 222.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
Get information about faster international access.
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2000
American Psychiatric Association.
All rights reserved.
Home
| Search
| Current Issue
| Past Issues
| Subscribe
| All APPI Journals
| Help
| Contact Us
|
