Alternative 911 Emergency Response Key Costs and Components

• In Event: Perspectives on Non-criminal Justice Responses and Interventions

Abstract

Alternative 911 emergency response programs provide individuals in crisis with immediate care appropriate to their mental and behavioral health needs while limiting police responses to serious crimes and violence. They hold promise in addressing social determinants of health, reducing overreliance on enforcement, and increasing equitable outcomes. Essential to implementing and evaluating these programs is understanding their key costs and components, but research gaps exist in this area. This study employs an ingredients-based approach to analyze the costs of alternative 911 emergency response programs. Sixteen program budgets and multiple staff interviews were included. Assumptions include a mid-sized city, one call center and emergency department, partial geographic coverage, and three years of funding. Results address total program costs, budget category breakouts, and common scenarios that can cause variance. Staff, vehicles, and technology account for most of program budgets. Assuming a consistent scale, budgets increase minimally over three years. A customizable costing workbook and discussion of potential funding sources is included. Local governments can utilize this analysis to ensure that sufficient funding is allocated in their budgets, and researchers can leverage it to inform future cost savings and benefits analyses.

Author

• Megan J. O'Toole, Everytown for Gun Safety