National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery | NCMHR

Working with Law Enforcement

Testimony Submitted to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights

On April 29, 2014, the Subcommittee held a hearing entitled "Law Enforcement Responses to Disabled Americans: Promising Approaches for Protecting Public Safety." NCMHR submitted written testimony calling for more voluntary, community-based alternatives to incarceration and hospitalization; removal of barriers to access to housing, education, and benefits for people exiting the criminal justice system; as well as the need for Crisis Intervention Teams and coordination with dispatch to ensure appropriate response by CIT-trained officers. Click here to read the submitted testimony (PDF, .97KB, 4 pages)

Building Partnerships, Strengthening Communities: Mental Health Consumer/Survivors & Law Enforcement

PowerPoint Presentation by A. Elaine Slaton, Lauren Spiro, and Mike Sullivan (1.59MB, 22 pages)

National Coalition Partners with Law Enforcement

NCMHR was a partner in the planning of and participated in the May 2010 Summit of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, entitled " Building Safer Communities: Improving Police Response to Persons with Mental Illness." A report based on this summit was issued in June 2010. Click here to read the National Coalition's introduction to the report (PDF, 39KB, 2 pages), and click here to read the report.

Building Bridges: Law Enforcement and the Mental Health Advocacy Community

An Introduction to the June 2010 IACP Report (PDF, 39KB, 2 pages). For the full report, click here.

Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses: The Essential Elements of a Specialized Law Enforcement–Based Program

This report was prepared by the Council of State Governments Justice Center In partnership with the Police Executive Research Forum. 2008.

This summary was prepared by Lauren Spiro. [Click to view/download PDF version, (3 pages, 102KB)]
For the full report see, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/pdf/LE_Essential_Elements.pdf (PDF, 1.01MB, 26 pages)

Law Enforcement Contacts for National Coalition Statewide Member Organizations (PDF, 64KB, 3 pages)