A six-month pilot programme in Denver, Colorado, that had mental health specialists instead of police respond to non-violent emergency calls reduced non-violent crime by 34 per cent
at Stanford University in California analysed criminal offences reported in all Denver police precincts before and during the STAR programme and found that non-violent crime rates decreased significantly in precincts where STAR operated compared with those without STAR. There was no impact on rates of“[People] might be concerned that not having police at lower-level crimes might lead to an escalation of something more violent, and that simply did not happen,” says Dee.
“When an individual is in a mental health crisis, it doesn’t last for eight hours and go away,” says Dee. “Bringing health care to individuals in such situations can direct them to appropriate care. If they’re not getting that care, they might be back on the street and offending again the next day.” “I think we still need to learn more about these [community response programs] like whether the success in Denver is being replicated in other cities,” says Dee. “But it’s the kind of promising intervention that should appeal to people across the political spectrum.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Denver Weather: More Severe Storms Possible In ColoradoAnother round of severe weather likely on Tuesday in Colorado.
Read more »
Denver Broncos Put Hockey Knowledge To The Test Amid Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Playoff RunA few Denver Broncos got to put their hockey knowledge to the test recently amid the Colorado Avalanche playoff run.
Read more »
Denver to ask car campers to come out of hiding in attempt to confront “huge need”The city of Denver is ready to put money behind a sanctioned overnight parking site that could accommodate a handful of the untold number of people living in vehicles on the city’s streets.
Read more »
Denver City Council to Vote on Major Affordable-Housing Policy TodayDenver City Council voting tonight on affordable housing policy.
Read more »
Denver City Council poised to pass proposal to increase affordable housingDenver City Council is expected to vote on a new plan Monday night to address the city's affordable housing crisis. via CB_Cotton
Read more »
Pandemic surge fills up what was glutted self-storage space in metro DenverAfter a stretch of overbuilding the past decade, metro Denver had too many self-storage units which triggered pricing wars and falling rents. But as with so many things, the pandemic has reworked the equation.
Read more »