Research on Law Enforcement Strategies

1. Research on Law Enforcement Strategies What Do We Know and How Do We Use It Smart Responses in Tough Times: Achieving Better Outcomes for People with Mental Illnesses Involved in the Criminal Justice System July 15-17, 2009

2. Speakers • Melissa Reuland (melissareuland86@gmail.com / 410-377-2264) • Senior Research Consultant • Police Executive Research Forum & CSG Justice Center • Victoria Cochran • State Coordinator for Criminal Justice and Initiatives • Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services • Sue Martone • Assistant Deputy Director, Office of Behavioral Health • Allegheny County (Penn.) Department of Human Services

3. Who cares about research? • Funders • Media • Partners • Community

4. Why should I care? • What should we do? • Are we doing what we intended to do? • Is what we are doing working?

5. What do I need to know about the research? • What data are measured and how • What common problems exist in the data

6. Reconciling differences in the data • Arrest rates • Calls for service • Total law enforcement contacts • Number of agencies with programs

7. What can I learn from published research? • The nature and extent of police encounters with people with mental illnesses • The impact of specialized programs

8. Nature and extent of police encounters with people with mental illnesses • Most law encounters are with people suspected of committing low-level misdemeanors, or who are exhibiting nuisance behavior • Some of these encounters may be volatile, but rarely do officers encounter someone with a mental illness at risk of harming someone else • Law enforcement encounters involving people with mental illnesses are relatively infrequent (accounting for approx. 2-7% of calls for service) • Officers respond repeatedly to a small subset of people believed to have mental illnesses

9. Nature and extent of police encounters with people with mental illnesses • These encounters are often time-consuming, especially when the officer transports the individual to an emergency medical facility and waits for admission or medical clearance • Violent outcomes are relatively rare, but these encounters can present risk s • Officers handle majority of these calls informally without taking the person into custody or connecting them to treatment

10. Outcomes achieved with specialized policing responses • Decreased injuries to officers • Increased frequency that officers transport individuals to mental health facilities for evaluations and treatment • People referred to treatments have fewer subsequent contacts with the criminal justice system • Reduced certain costs incurred by law enforcement agencies

11. Thank you For further information & conference presentations, please visit: www.consensusproject.org This material was developed by presenters for the July 2009 event: “Smart Responses in Tough Times: Achieving Better Outcomes for People with Mental Illnesses Involved in the Criminal Justice System.” Presentations are not externally reviewed for form or content and as such, the statements within reflect the views of the authors and should not be considered the official position of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Justice Center, the members of the Council of State Governments, or funding agencies supporting the work.