Monday, November 29, 2004

Police experiment with getting mentally ill help instead of handcuffs (Virginia)
Hampton Roads Pilot story - "The growing number of mentally ill people locked up in Hampton Roads jails is prompting searches for innovative solutions, from special courts to police programs. One approach, in Memphis, Tenn., has drawn interest from Virginia and is spreading to departments across the country. It emphasizes bringing mentally ill people into treatment – not jail. Members of the Memphis police crisis intervention team get 40 hours of training on mental health and conflict resolution, then regularly handle calls involving disturbed people. They work closely with a hospital that accepts people for psychiatric assessments around the clock. By contrast, mental health training for Hampton Roads officers typically consists of several hours in a police academy, with occasional refresher courses. No 24-hour psychiatric drop-off facility exists. Officers who think somebody should be detained must enlist a mental health professional and a magistrate – a process that can take hours. They may have to transport the person to a distant mental hospital. It is quicker to make an arrest..." See also two related stories at the same source - Local jails become holding facilities for mentally ill people and Jailing the mentally ill: a study in neglect.