City, police officials unveil Detroit mental health initiative
Detroit Some city police officers responding to runs that may involve the mentally ill soon will be accompanied by behavioral health specialists, as part of an initiative rolled out Monday which aims to address what Detroit s top cop describes as one of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement.
During a press conference at Public Safety Headquarters, Mayor Mike Duggan, Chief James Craig and Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network chairman Bernard Parker announced the Mental Health Co-Response Partnership. Anyone who has been in uniform knows the challenge the mentally ill pose to police officers, Duggan said.
How to respond to a naked, unarmed, out-of-control mentally ill woman?
As the 29-year-old woman flailed her arms and reportedly spit at him, Detroit Police Cpl. Dewayne Jones reacted with blunt force, in video captured by a bystander. Jones struck the woman about a dozen times, while another officer and hospital security worker sought to restrain her.
Mentally ill behind bars
23 percent had serious mental illness
66 percent with serious mental illness also had incidents of substance abuse
54 percent with serious mental illness had three or four risk factors to reoffend
Individuals with serious mental illness spent 34 days in jail compared to 17 those without mental illness, for comparable offenses