The role of law enforcement has evolved over recent years, expanding from responding to criminal activity to now also responding to community members who may be experiencing a mental health or behavioral health crisis, regardless of whether there is a criminal nexus.
The following highlights the ways in which Civil Rights Litigation has touched upon this topic. Within each component, there is associated research, resources, and programs related to mental health and crisis intervention that agencies can use as they better understand the issues and how to address that issue positively.
The information provided within these modules has been gathered from various sources, including consent decrees, research, and practitioner and department-developed resources. These webpage modules are intended to be a guide for departments to use to improve their Constitutional policing practices. Additional information and resources may be needed to implement the recommendations successfully. This resource is intended to be dynamic, and the Knowledge Lab will continue to update and add to these modules to provide additional and current guidance for departments.