Journal article
A police-clinician co-response team to people with mental illness in a suburban-rural community: a randomized controlled trial
Journal of experimental criminology, Vol.21(2), pp.577-598
06/01/2025
DOI: 10.1007/s11292-023-09603-8
Abstract
ObjectivesThe police-mental health co-response model has garnered support from both police and healthcare workers. It is praised for its ability to enhance crisis de-escalation, increase in-service referrals, and reduce pressure on the criminal legal system, and its cost-effectiveness relative to hospitalization. This study examines whether the police-mental health co-response team actually achieves the proclaimed goals in a suburban-rural community.MethodsA total of 2809 police shifts were randomized into treatment and control groups, with 140 participants recruited. The study analyzed and compared the numbers of police contacts and mental health calls for service among participants in treatment and control shifts over a 12-month follow-up period.ResultsThe results revealed no significant difference in the number of subsequent police contacts between the treatment and control groups. The findings were further complemented by insights gathered from focus group interviews.ConclusionsIn summary, implementing a co-response team shows promise for assisting individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, especially for police departments and service providers in non-urban areas. However, to achieve long-term effectiveness, it is crucial to identify strategies that reduce treatment attrition and enhance subsequent outcomes.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A police-clinician co-response team to people with mental illness in a suburban-rural community: a randomized controlled trial
- Creators
- Sue-Ming Yang - George Mason UniversityCharlotte E. Gill - George Mason UniversityYi-Fang Lu - George Mason UniversityMuneeba Azam - George Mason UniversityL. Cait Kanewske - Center for Naval Analyses
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of experimental criminology, Vol.21(2), pp.577-598
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11292-023-09603-8
- ISSN
- 1573-3750
- eISSN
- 1572-8315
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 22
- Grant note
- Bureau of Justice Assistance
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/01/2025
- Academic Unit
- Center for Social Science Innovation; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9985132185602771
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