NCJ Number
67870
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A PENNSYLVANIA PROGRAM LINKING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND TREATMENT AGENCIES TO RESPOND TO DRUG, ALCOHOL, AND PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCIES IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
COPING WITH NONCRIMINAL EMERGENCY SITUATIONS INVOLVING PERSONS IN NEED OF DRUG, ALCOHOL, OR PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT HAS CUSTOMARILY FALLEN TO POLICE, WHO ARE SELDOM EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH SUCH CRISES. IN THE PAST, THE POLICE HAVE HAD TWO OPTIONS AVAILABLE: THEY CAN ARREST THE PERSON, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED, OR THEY CAN TRY TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE TREATMENT FACILITY WILLING TO ACCEPT THE PERSON. NEITHER OPTION IS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM POSED. THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICE (MCES) IN NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA WAS DEVELOPED TO DEAL WITH SUCH PROBLEMS. PROVIDING SHORT TERM EMERGENCY SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY, MCES IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT CORPORATION APPROVED AS AN INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. BY OFFERING IMMEDIATE, COORDINATED SERVICES TO PERSONS INVOLVED IN PSYCHIATRIC, DRUG, AND ALCOHOL EMERGENCIES, MCES WORKS WITH THE POLICE, COURTS, JUVENILE FACILITIES, PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICES, AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION. THE CAPABILITIES OF THE POLICE ARE ENHANCED BY ANCILLARY SERVICES SUCH AS A TELEPHONE HOTLINE AND EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES; CITIZENS ARE HELPED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION, DETOXIFICATION, INPATIENT SERVICES, AND REFERRRALS FOR FOLLOWUP TREATMENT. THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO INTERFACE WITH THE TREATMENT COMMUNITY ARE INCREASED THROUGH ORIENTATION AND TRAINING SESSIONS AT ALL LEVELS OF POLICE EDUCATION AND THROUGH THE USE OF HUMAN SERVICE WORKER TRAINEES IN SELECTED POLICE DEPARTMENTS. IN ADDITION, THE TRAINEES KEEP OFFICERS APPRISED OF THE TREATMENT RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED, AND FACTORS AFFECTING ITS REPLICABILITY ARE EXAMINED.