Resources for Law Enforcement

The following publications and tools were created by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, with funding support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program.

Technical Assistance

Law Enforcement-Mental Health Collaboration Support Center

The Law Enforcement-Mental Health Collaboration Support Center offers free training, resources, and support to communities wanting to improve their law enforcement and community responses to people with behavioral health conditions or intellectual and developmental disabilities. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/resources/le-mh-collaboration-support-center/

Law Enforcement Mental Health Learning Sites Program

The 14 Law Enforcement-Mental Health Learning Sites are available to help agencies looking to tailor successful implementation strategies and response models to address their own distinct problems and circumstances. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/projects/law-enforcement-mental-health-learning-sites/

Practical Tools

Police-Mental Health Collaboration Toolkit

The Police-Mental Health Collaboration (PMHC) Toolkit serves as a clearinghouse for PMHC information and resources. Find here: https://bja.ojp.gov/program/pmhc

Police-Mental Health Collaboration Self- Assessment Tool

The PMHC Self-Assessment tool helps law enforcement agencies and their behavioral health partners assess their progress toward implementing high quality partnership-based interventions. This tool is designed to provide unique resources that help agencies improve their responses to calls for service for people with mental illnesses and/or co-occurring substance use conditions. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/projects/police-mental-health-collaboration-pmhc/self-assessment-tool/

Sharing Behavioral Health Information within Police-Mental Health Collaborations

Access to behavioral health information is crucial for law enforcement officials to respond to people with behavioral health needs. This webpage provides jurisdiction-specific strategies that can be used as templates for other communities seeking to create their own strategies for sharing behavioral health information. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/projects/police-mental-health-collaboration-pmhc/sharing-behavioral-health-information/

Guidance for Executive Leadership

Police-Mental Health Collaborations: A Framework for Implementing Effective Law Enforcement Responses for People Who Have Mental Health Needs

Officers are often called on to be the first, and sometimes the only, responders to calls involving people with mental health needs. This framework aims to help law enforcement agencies advance comprehensive, agency-wide responses in partnership with behavioral health providers. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/police-mental-health-collaborations-a-framework-for-implementing-effective-law-enforcement-responses-for-people-who-have-mental-health-needs/

A Matter of Public Health and Safety: How States Can Support Local Crisis Systems

The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated deep-rooted systemic problems related to inequitable access to necessary care and services to address—and prevent—mental health crises in communities. This brief details five actions state policymakers can take to fund and sustain local crisis systems and provides case examples of how local crisis systems in two jurisdictions have achieved cost savings and positive outcomes. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/a-matter-of-public-health-and-safety-how-states-can-support-local-crisis-systems/

Practical Briefs

Building a Comprehensive and Coordinated Crisis System

Across the nation, communities are grappling with how to respond to crisis calls, particularly ones involving people with behavioral health needs. As they work to build and expand their crisis systems, communities are also looking to expand beyond typical police responses to include mental health professionals and other community responders. This brief highlights the continuum of responses that make up a comprehensive, coordinated crisis system and offers guidance for building a system that addresses local needs.Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/building-a-comprehensive-and-coordinated-crisis-system/

Developing and Implementing Your Co-Responder Program

Many law enforcement agencies are seeking alternatives to arrest or hospitalization to help ensure best outcomes for people in need. One growing approach, known as co-responder programs, pairs health care professionals with officers to respond to behavioral health crisis calls. This brief describes ways to ensure these programs are successful. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/developing-and-implementing-your-co-responder-program/

How to Reduce Repeat Encounters: A Brief for Law Enforcement Executives

Law enforcement agencies across the country face the challenge of how to efficiently respond to people that their officers frequently encounter. This brief provides practical steps law enforcement executives can take to address and improve outcomes for this population.Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/how-to-reduce-repeat-encounters/

How to Successfully Implement a Mobile Crisis Team

As officers are increasingly tasked with responding to people in crisis, jurisdictions are seeking ways to support their law enforcement agencies. For many communities, mobile crisis teams—trained health professionals who can provide on-the-scene crisis assistance—are a great option. This brief provides an overview of mobile crisis teams and offers four tips to ensure their success. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/how-to-successfully-implement-a-mobile-crisis-team/

Implementing Specialized Caseloads to Reduce Recidivism for People with Co-Occurring Disorders

Many criminal justice leaders are beginning to look to specialized caseloads as a tool for reducing recidivism among people who have mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders. This brief presents five key practices for successful implementation of specialized caseloads for people with co-occurring disorders. It relies on a coordinated and collaborative approach and reinforces the need for probation officers to have the appropriate resources to connect people to individualized treatments and supports. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/implementing-specialized-caseloads-to-reduce-recidivism-for-people-with-co-occurring-disorders/

The Role of Probation and Parole in Making Housing a Priority for People with Behavioral Health Needs

Safe, affordable, and permanent housing is widely recognized as one of the most crucial components of successful reentry. But finding permanent housing is often a challenge for people leaving prison or jail, particularly people with behavioral health needs who often cycle between homeless shelters, jails, and psychiatric institutions. This brief explains how probation and parole officers can help people with behavioral health needs obtain safe and affordable housing as they reenter the community. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/the-role-of-probation-and-parole-in-making-housing-a-priority-for-people-with-behavioral-health-needs/

Understanding and Managing Risks for People with Behavioral Health Needs: FAQs for Local Prosecutors

Prosecutors play an important role in determining how the criminal justice system responds to people with behavioral health needs. This brief provides research about people with behavioral health needs and the stigmas they face. It also presents practical steps prosecutors can implement to improve the outcomes for this population, reduce risk, and maintain public safety. Find here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/understanding-and-managing-risks-for-people-with-behavioral-health-needs/