NCJ Number
127123
Date Published
1990
Length
227 pages
Annotation
The Police-Mental Health Coordination Project is an interagency program intended to establish linkages between the law enforcement and mental health systems in New York State and to provide police officers with training that facilitates their safe handling of calls or incidents involving mentally ill persons.
Abstract
Now in its third year, the project has accomplished two major training objectives: design of a 16-hour mental health training program and implementation of a series of train-the-trainer workshops for certified police trainers and appropriate mental health staff who conduct police-mental health training for basic recruit-level officers. The training program's format is based on both didactic and participatory learning to help police officers effectively handle crises involving emotionally disturbed persons. Training subjects cover indicators of emotional disturbance, mental illness, substance abuse, mental hygiene law, intervention in low-risk and high-risk situations, and liability issues. The trainer's manual contains all instructional content and role play formats. It includes a set of transparencies, print materials for distribution, and an instructor role play guide. Appendixes to the manual contain additional information on suicide prevention screening, civil liability, and police custody of persons under Article 9 of New York's Mental Hygiene Law.