Police Response to
Mental Health
Explore information on police responses to people experiencing mental health concerns, behavioral health crises, or similar situations. Browse research, reports, presentations, and other materials to learn more about high frequency utilizers (HFUs) and discover approaches that may be useful in your agency or community.
Project Background
JSS engaged in and evaluated the Los
Angeles Police Department’s Connect and
Protect initiative, a federally funded program
focused on supporting HFUs who frequently rely on
emergency services during mental health and
behavioral health crises.
Our work with the initiative provided insight
into the challenges agencies face when
responding to these situations. These insights
informed the development of this page, which
brings together materials on mental health,
behavioral health crises, and related topics to
support law enforcement professionals.
The Study at a Glance
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2 Cohorts.
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32 Participants.
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Reduce emergency service use and improve participant stability.
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Provide intensive case management through direct outreach, relationship building, and coordinated service connections.
Key Outcomes
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Some reductions in emergency service use were observed.
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Differences between groups were small after implementation.
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Many participants experienced mental health, housing, and substance use challenges.
LAPD Mental Evaluation Unit — Learn more about LAPD’s MEU and its role in responding to mental health-related calls.
Police-Mental Health Collaboration — Explore information and training resources on partnerships between law enforcement and mental health professionals.
Reports: What We Found
RESEARCH BRIEF • REPORTS • PRESENTATION
LAPD CONNECT &
PROTECT: RESEARCH
BRIEF
View a research brief highlighting the cohort groups of LAPD’s Connect & Protect.
Access three reports on LAPD’s Connect & Protect, covering cohort outcomes, HFU success stories, and program implementation and sustainability.
CONNECT AND PROTECT
IN LOS ANGELES
SLIDE DECK
Access a slide deck covering the Connect and Protect program in Los Angeles.
High Frequency Utilizer Initiatives
Across the
Country
Long Beach
Connection to
Care Program
Long Beach, CA
Miami-Dade
Criminal Mental
Health Project
Miami-Dade, FL
Houston’s
Chronic
Consumers
Houston, TX
Seattle City
Attorney's Office
High Utilizer
Initiative
Seattle, WA
King County’s
Familiar Faces
Initiative
King County, WA
Camden Coalition Cross-Sector Data Initiative
Camden, NJ
Learning the Basics
WHO ARE HIGH
FREQUENCY
UTILIZERS?
DEFINING HIGH
FREQUENCY
UTILIZERS
COMMON HIGH
FREQUENCY
UTILIZER PROFILES
WHY IT MATTERS?
CONTACT US
Submit your contact
information
Resources: What We Learned
ONE-PAGERS • INFOGRAPHIC
Access a collection of one pagers
showcasing different HFU programs that have been implemented.
Synthesized from eight one pagers on police response to mental health and HFU programs.