Statewide Law Enforcement/Mental Health Efforts: Strategies to Support and Sustain Local Initiatives

• NCJ Number: 240786
• Author(s): Melissa Reuland; Laura Draper; Blake Norton
• Date Published: January 2013
• Length: 66 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2008– DD– BX– 0673
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Corporate Author: Council of State Governments Justice Center
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This document provides a description of how statewide efforts can be organized to best play a role in supporting specialized policing responses (SPRs) within their borders.

Abstract

Results show that since the examined States were actively engaged in shifting their implementation process from a "one jurisdiction at a time" approach to one where SPR programs were promulgated in a structured, coordinated way throughout a single State, it demonstrates that this new strategy has the potential to significantly increase the number and quality of SPR programs in the United States. This paper describes how statewide coordination efforts are structured in Connecticut, Ohio, and Utah; and how this structure synthesizes their successes and challenges in coordinating the work. The descriptions and examples in this report are intended to offer policymakers, practitioners, and others interested in planning or enhancing a statewide initiative a starting point for exploring their own efforts. This report is divided into two main sections: section 1 examines the structure of statewide efforts which discusses the types of organizations that lead statewide coordination, strategies for how these lead organizations staff and fund their work, and critical partner organizations. Section 2 examines the objectives of these efforts and highlights the range of activities States have undertaken to further their objectives, such as supporting the development of local law enforcement/mental health programs, encouraging these local efforts' adherence to SPR core principles, and helping local communities to sustain their SPR programs. Throughout these sections, the advantages of statewide coordination in promoting comprehensive and effective SPRs are illustrated. Although this document focuses on three States, it includes program examples from five other States with established initiatives: Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Maine. Profiles for all eight States are included. Tables and appendixes