Too often, police are tasked with handling a host of situations that are not about criminal activity, but are about other social issues (without the necessary training or resources). Cities are stepping up by establishing "community responder" programs to tackle certain low-risk 911 calls. These specially trained professionals improve both short- and long-term outcomes, because they are equipped with skills like de-escalation and mediation, and can connect folks to community-based care. They can also prevent the escalation that can sometimes occur when police arrive at the scene.
This report from the Law Enforcement Action Partnership and the Center for American Progress, with help from the Policing Project at NYU Law, is designed to guide cities seeking to safely and effectively adapt their dispatch systems to integrate community responder models into their first response services.
Read the report here.
In spring 2023, the Policing Project at NYU Law partnered with Dignity Best Practices to host a virtual summit for 911 and alternative response practitioners to meet with Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software companies and other technology providers. As jurisdictions launch alternative response options to supplement traditional public safety services, 911 call centers are wrestling with the operational questions of how new responses will be triaged, dispatched, and integrated into emergency communication systems. Local jurisdictions were invited to share with CAD companies and other providers the challenges, needs, and innovation opportunities associated with the emerging practice of dispatching alternative response options beyond the traditional trio of police, fire, and EMS.
Read a report from the convening here.
