Project Details

The Center serves as a statewide hub for research, evidence-based training, and technical assistance to strengthen law enforcement responses to individuals with behavioral health needs. It advances community policing and crisis intervention through specialized training programs, acts as a clearinghouse for best practices, and supports partnerships between law enforcement and human services.

The Center also establishes data-driven measures for evaluation, including a statewide system used by more than 165 police departments, and conducts research to inform policy and practice. Its mission is to support the decriminalization of mental illness by equipping law enforcement with the training, tools, and partnerships needed to guide individuals in crisis toward the most appropriate outcome.

Methodology

In partnership with the state, I oversee collection of program data on incidents encountered by Jail Diversion Programs, which are entered for state reporting purposes and used for secondary analysis. I also conduct primary data collection, using purposive or convenience sampling depending on the study design. This dual approach allows for large-scale quantitative analysis as well as targeted quantitative and qualitative inquiry.

Key Findings

• Analysis of over 10,000 police-led crisis encounters found that mood disorders and community referral options increased the likelihood of emergency department diversion, while psychotic disorders and substance use decreased diversion rates.
• A machine learning model predicting diversion outcomes achieved 91% accuracy, with charge severity, diagnosis, and clinician presence emerging as key predictors in ethical decision-making.
• A qualitative case study with 24 MDT members (12 police, 12 clinicians) identified four themes shaping crisis response: systemic barriers, the importance of training and role clarity, need for intentional implementation, and benefits of diverse expertise.
• Focus groups with 35 professionals (12 officers, 13 co-response clinicians, 6 SANEs, 4 correctional nurses) showed nurses uniquely emphasized physical health, hidden injuries, and escalation risk in crisis scenes, supporting a new Nurse-Police Assistance Crisis Team (N-PACT) model.