Ohio's Policy Kitchen

Non-police care response: a step toward transformative justice

Posted on 10/18/22 by Bree Easterling (they/them) in Justice Reform

When we call for help, we want assurance that whoever arrives on the scene will make the situation better, not worse. How law enforcement responds to emergency calls has made public safety a priority in many communities. Residents, advocates and even service providers have begun looking closely at new ways to keep residents safe. One promising model is mobile response for people experiencing behavioral health crises that does not involve police. In Cleveland, high-profile police killings of two unarmed residents sparked an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Police shot at Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell 137 times after a... read more