MONTGOMERY COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICE, NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - AN EXEMPLARY PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 44950
• Author(s): C H BLEW; P CIREL
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 143 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-030-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EXEMPLARY PROJECT

Annotation

THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICE (MCES) IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT CORPORATION AND A FULLY LICENSED AND ACCREDITED PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL WHICH OFFERS PSYCHIATRIC AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL EMERGENCY SERVICE.

Abstract

MCES SERVICES INCLUDE TELEPHONE 'HOT LINE' ASSISTANCE, A SPECIALLY EQUIPPED EMERGENCY AMBULANCE, PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION, DETOXIFICATION, SHORT-TERM HOSPITALIZATION, AND REFERRAL TO OTHER AGENCIES FOR CONTINUING CARE. TO ASSIST POLICE IN HANDLING THESE EMERGENCIES, MCES FORMED A CRIMINAL JUSTICE LIAISON NETWORK BY PLACING TRAINED HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS IN SELECTED POLICE DEPARTMENTS. SINCE MCES OPENED ITS DOORS IN FEBRUARY 1974, 30 PERCENT OF ITS CLIENT CONTACTS HAVE BEEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFERRALS. BY DESIGNATING MCES AN EXEMPLARY PROJECT, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECOGNIZED IT AS AN EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO ARREST IN VARIOUS CRISIS SITUATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).