In the year since the city of Los Angeles launched a pilot program to deploy teams of clinicians to respond to incidents involving people in mental health crises, it has diverted thousands of calls away from police and kept response times under 30 minutes.
Of the more than 6,000 calls the program responded to last year, the overwhelming majority were handled without law enforcement intervention, according to program authorities.
“This is exactly the type of solution that we’re interested in,” Godfrey Plata, deputy director of progressive policy advocacy group LA Forward, told LAist.
But with the city tightening its belt on the budget, it’s unclear how much longer the $14 million unarmed crisis response program will continue. The contract with local nonprofits that staff the response teams is set to expire at the end of August.
The Office of the City Administrative Officer said it submitted a budget proposal request to Mayor Karen Bass’s office to extend the program for another year.
LAist asked Bass’ office if it’s likely the request would be approved.
“The budget development process is underway, and the Mayor will release her budget proposal on April 21,” a spokesperson said in an email.
Supporters say it’s a good start
People living with mental illness, their family members and activists have long called for the removal of law enforcement from mental health crisis calls. The presence of police officers or sheriff’s deputies can cause a situation to escalate — and lead to violent or deadly outcomes.
Last year, an LAist investigation found that nearly one-third of LAPD shootings since 2017 involved someone living with a mental illness and/or experiencing a mental health crisis.
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