Abstract
The landscape of law enforcement is changing. Mental health needs are on the rise, and the vast majority of law enforcement calls for service are already related to social issues. Public safety today requires greater attention to justice, innovation, and new technology. It also requires additional professionals, like social workers, for social service delivery. The future of public safety is clearly a serious situation for police and emergency services organizations and their professional employees. This chapter will (1) discuss the situation that communities and organizations face, (2) identify some of the alternative strategies that can be employed, and (3) provide a process planning model for creating new approaches on the ground in communities. This model emphasizes a data-informed and collaborative approach to the issue.
TopAlternative Strategies: Employing Data, Technology, And Oversight In Law Enforcement And Social Services
This section is divided into two parts. The first part will discuss current trends in mental health interventions, police social workers, mobile crisis response teams, and training for police officers. The second part will discuss community-based policing strategies and techniques to build relationships and trust with the community as a prerequisite for successful mental health intervention.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Citizen Review/Oversight Board: This is a board of community members that has authority over some law enforcement policies and practices, especially in cases of misconduct. Typically, seats are appointed by the mayor or other oversight authority (like the Department of Justice).
Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRTs): These crisis response teams employ social workers or mental health professionals outside of a police department and often coordinate with a police department.
Citizen Advisory Board: This is a board of elected or appointed community members that provide advisory recommendations to the local law enforcement agency. This type of board does not have authority over the law enforcement agency, but may hold considerable influence.
Accountability Dashboards: These are regularly updated electronic webpages or websites using technology to employ visual representations of progress on police reform and other police data. These are meant to be a public communication tool and can be maintained by law enforcement or by an independent agency. These are externally focused and accessible by the community.
Human-Centered Planning: A planning technique that involves the people affected in the planning process.
Police Social Workers (PSWs): Refer to social workers who are embedded within police departments and are hired by the police department. PSWs can be second responders and provide case management during or after an incident. The police social work approach is involved in group (mezzo) and community, organization, or policy-level (macro) work.
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA): National accrediting body for law enforcement agencies. National law enforcement accreditation is optional. Only about 2,000 agencies out of nearly 18,000 choose to be nationally accredited.