Alternatives to Police Response to Behavioral Crises

Police have become the de facto first responders to behavioral health crises despite rarely receiving adequate training to safely and effectively handle the situation. The consequences of this are reflected in the disproportionate number of people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders killed by police every year and held in jails and prisons. A panel of experts - Dr. Tracie Keesee, Co-founder and Senior Vice President of Justice Initiatives at the Center for Policing Equity; Timothy Black, Director of Consulting for White Bird Clinic; and Christy E. Lopez, Professor from Practice at Georgetown Law - will discuss alternatives to police responses when it comes to behavioral health crises. Dr. Marvin Swartz will moderate. This event will also feature a Q&A. Registration is required. RSVP here: http://bit.ly/PoliceAlternatives. Sponsored by the Wilson Center for Science and Justice. For more information, contact Marlyn Dail at wcsj@law.duke.edu.