Urging Implementation of Mental Health Crisis Response Units in Law Enforcement

WHEREAS, Across the United States, an increasing number of police encounters with mentally ill individuals have resulted in fatalities, with most victims being people of color; and 

WHEREAS, According to statistics from the Mapping Police Violence project, Black people are killed by police officers three times more than white people, while fatal police shootings of persons with untreated mental illnesses highlight the interrelated problems experienced by racial minorities and mental health disparities in affected communities; and 

WHEREAS, In another research study published in The Lancet Psychiatry, individuals with mental health issues were found to be at a higher risk for being killed during interactions with law enforcement compared to other civilian populations that come into contact with police. This then calls for alternative approaches for handling mental health crises within law enforcement agencies; and 

WHEREAS, Alliances between police departments, mental health professionals, community associations, and advocates are known to enhance outcomes in cases of crisis involving mentally disturbed persons, thereby indicating the requirement for comprehensive and coordinated responses across the nation; and 

WHEREAS, The City of Denver, Colorado, has successfully implemented the Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) program, resulting in a 36% reduction in arrests and a 42% reduction in use-of-force incidents compared to traditional police responses, according to data from the Denver Department of Public Safety. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls upon federal, state and local governments to prioritize the establishment and implementation of specialized mental health units or crisis intervention teams within their departments to respond to situations involving individuals experiencing mental health crises, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of communities of color disproportionately affected by police violence. 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP urges federal, state, and local governments to allocate adequate funding and resources to support the training, staffing, and ongoing operations of these mental health units within law enforcement agencies, recognizing the importance of investing in alternative approaches to public safety that prioritize de-escalation, crisis intervention, and access to mental health care for all residents.