TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Evaluation of a police-mental health co-response team relative to traditional police response in Indianapolis
JO  - Psychiatric services
A1  - Bailey, Katie
A1  - Lowder, Evan M.
A1  - Grommon, Eric
A1  - Rising, Staci
A1  - Ray, Bradley R.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVE: Criminal justice and emergency medical service (EMS) outcomes were compared for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis who received a response from a co-response team (CRT) or a usual response from the police after a 911 call. <br><br>METHODS: A prospective, quasi-experimental design was used to examine outcomes of a CRT pilot tested in Indianapolis (August-December 2017). Weighted multivariable models examined effects of study condition (CRT group, N=313; usual-response group, N=315) on immediate booking, emergency detention, and subsequent jail bookings and EMS encounters. Sensitivity of outcomes to follow-up by a behavioral health unit (BHU) was also examined. <br><br>RESULTS: Individuals in the CRT group were less likely than those in the usual-police-response group to be arrested immediately following the 911 incident (odds ratio [OR]=0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.25-0.92) and were more likely to experience any EMS encounter at 6- and 12-month follow-up (OR range=1.71-1.85, p≤0.015 for all). Response type was not associated with jail bookings at 6 or 12 months. Follow-up BHU services did not reduce bookings or EMS encounters. CRT recipients with BHU follow-up were more likely than those without BHU follow-up to have a subsequent EMS contact (OR range=2.35-3.12, p≤0.001 for all). These findings differed by racial group. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: CRT responses may reduce short-term incarceration risk but not long-term EMS demand or risk of justice involvement. Future research should consider the extent to which CRT and follow-up services improve engagement with stabilizing treatment services, which may reduce the likelihood of future crises.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1075-2730
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202000864
ID  - ref1
ER  -