Cities know the way police respond to mental crisis calls needs to change. But how?

Cities know the way police respond to mental crisis calls needs to change. But how?

Posted on November 9, 2023

In 2020, the Crisis Receiving for Behavioral Health center ("Crib") opened in Downtown Sacramento and receives people experiencing a mental health crisis. The center allows them to stay for 24 hours and get connected to other services. “Physical locations linked to services, like Crib, are a crucial part of a well-functioning 988 system,” said Jennifer Snow, National Director of Government Relations, Policy and Advocacy for NAMI. "Those crisis stabilization programs are key to helping people not languish in the ER or unnecessarily get caught up in the criminal justice system," Snow said. “It's too early to know how the nation is progressing overall on building up these kinds of centers,” Snow said.