Reducing Reliance on Arrest: Police-Led Deflection of Individuals with Severe Mental Health Disorders to Local Community Crisis Centers

• In Event: Addressing Racial Disproportionality: Multi-Method Examinations of Population Review Teams and Arrest/Diversion Strategies

Abstract

Objective
The larger study explores the implementation of police-led deflection in two community crisis centers and evaluates their effectiveness in reducing re-arrests for individuals with severe mental health diagnoses. This paper uses a subset of the data to unpack the extent to which police are deflecting eligible individuals to the crisis centers in each site underscoring racial and ethnic disparities.
Data/Methods
Using a mixed method approach we use data from July 2018 to February 2020 from Pima County, AZ and another county along the East Coast to compare the overall eligible rate of deflection to the actual rate of deflection as well assess rates by race, ethnicity, and sex. Then, we contextualize these rates with semi-structure interview data from police officers who are eligible to make deflections in each site (N =30).
Results
Preliminary results offer various reasons for differences in eligible and actual rates of deflection, including: physical location, back-up availability, and organizational pressures. Some local nuance appears across sites.
Conclusions/Implications
In a climate prioritizing police reform and deemphasizing use of arrest/jail, this research provides insight into a police-led program which answers this call. Specifically, it highlights on-the ground barriers to implementing police led-deflection and offers recommendations to both the local sites and future police departments.

Authors

• Shannon Magnuson, George Mason University / Justice Systems Partners

• Brian Lovins, Justice System Partners

• Jennifer Lerch, Justice System Partners