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Problems

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Due to inadequate mental health/disability services and prevention programs, police officers are relied upon as first – and often only – responders to scenes where people with mental health and developmental disabilities or substance use disorders are in crisis. As there is a distinct difference between the job/training of law enforcement workers and that of healthcare workers, police officers may not be equipped with the necessary or appropriate skills/tools to handle such crises. Relying exclusively on police officers to respond to these crises can thus have lethal consequences, jeopardizing the safety of everyone involved, including officers themselves.

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Click on the drop-down options to learn more about specific factors that make this an issue.