6b) Joint Meeting with the Board of Supervisors, the Behavioral Health Advisory Board and the Mental Health Treatment Act Citizen's Oversight Committee
(Sponsors: Supervisor Gjerde and Behavioral Health Recovery Services)
Given 1) the recent atrocious response of UPD to a person suffering a mental health (MH) crisis 2) that the majority of 911/calls for service are for low level offences that do not require an armed response (<3% are violent offences) 3) the OT and personnel budget of law enforcement (LE) 4) none to minimal LE training in de-escalation or mental health crises or social services; it follows that calls for service/911 calls could be better responded to if matched with other professionals trained to provide support and/or connect people to needed services.
Many jurisdictions are utilizing models that utilize LE as back-up only. The model initiated/considered by MCSO/FBPD embeds MH professionals with MCSO which has no evidence base. Even with LE crisis intervention training (CIT) “There is little evidence in the peer-reviewed literature, however, that shows CIT's benefits on objective measures of arrests, officer injury, citizen injury, or use of force.” Effectiveness of Police Crisis Intervention Training Programs - Rogers et al, J of American Academy of Psychiatry & Law Online Sept 2019].
In contrast, the CAHOOTS type model has decades of research and proven effectiveness as well as tax payer cost savings.
The BOS is encouraged to opt for a better solution to 911/calls for service responses. Options include utilizing ARPA funding to finance a pilot, move a portion of the MCSO personal budget to community based responders, and other creative solutions.. Models exist, as do training programs, and the data support that this option can better provide service, safety, and savings for Mendocino County residents.
Given 1) the recent atrocious response of UPD to a person suffering a mental health (MH) crisis 2) that the majority of 911/calls for service are for low level offences that do not require an armed response (<3% are violent offences) 3) the OT and personnel budget of law enforcement (LE) 4) none to minimal LE training in de-escalation or mental health crises or social services; it follows that calls for service/911 calls could be better responded to if matched with other professionals trained to provide support and/or connect people to needed services.
Many jurisdictions are utilizing models that utilize LE as back-up only. The model initiated/considered by MCSO/FBPD embeds MH professionals with MCSO which has no evidence base. Even with LE crisis intervention training (CIT) “There is little evidence in the peer-reviewed literature, however, that shows CIT's benefits on objective measures of arrests, officer injury, citizen injury, or use of force.” Effectiveness of Police Crisis Intervention Training Programs - Rogers et al, J of American Academy of Psychiatry & Law Online Sept 2019].
In contrast, the CAHOOTS type model has decades of research and proven effectiveness as well as tax payer cost savings.
The BOS is encouraged to opt for a better solution to 911/calls for service responses. Options include utilizing ARPA funding to finance a pilot, move a portion of the MCSO personal budget to community based responders, and other creative solutions.. Models exist, as do training programs, and the data support that this option can better provide service, safety, and savings for Mendocino County residents.