Good progress in bolstering Lancaster County's crisis intervention infrastructure, but more resources are needed [editorial] lancasteronline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lancasteronline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Senate should support the Safe Interactions Act and the HELP Act to make our cities and towns safer for both law enforcement personnel and people with disabilities.
AP Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey will introduce two police reform bills, both of which he says have bipartisan support.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey plans to introduce two police reform bills this week to address police violence involving people struggling with mental health issues, by diverting more 911 calls away from law enforcement and toward social services.
“Our current response system places a burden on law enforcement officers that, frankly, they shouldn’t have to bear,” the Pennsylvania Democrat said at a press conference on Monday.
The Human Services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act of 2021 would increase access to social services and mental health resources in hopes of reducing police interactions with people with disabilities, those experiencing mental health crises, and more. The proposal would route more calls to 211, a number which refers callers to both private and public health and human service resources, as well as 988, the number for the National Suici
Amid calls for police reform nationwide, democratic and republican representatives alike are backing new legislation to change the way law enforcement respond to some 911 calls.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Law Enforcement Education and Accountability for People with Disabilities (LEAD) Initiative in the Senate Monday. It is comprised of two bills that promise to reduce police violence against people with disabilities and in mental health crises: the Safe Interactions Act and Human-services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) ACT.
The initiative comes after months of demonstrations against police brutality across the state and nation.
Family members said Hall was in-between counselors and experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of shooting, which was ruled justified by the Monroe County District Attorney.
Pennlive
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., speaks during a general election campaign event in Philadelphia in 2018.
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U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and other Pennsylvania lawmakers are sponsoring legislation aimed at reducing the chance police encounters with those with disabilities or mental health issues will end tragically.
Casey, D-Pa., is sponsoring what he’s dubbed the Law Enforcement Education and Accountability for People with Disabilities (LEAD) Initiative. It includes two bills that would divert some emergency calls away from 9-1-1 and toward human services and mental health support agencies, Casey’s office said. The package would also offer more training for police when they engage with people with disabilities or mental health issues.