These behavioral health units –— which are made up of mental health professionals who respond to behavioral health emergencies in the place of police — are often lacking resources, forcing them to work reduced hours in smaller geographic borders. As a result, police are more likely to respond to these emergencies in their place.
The report cited a study published in BMC Psychiatry, which found that people experiencing a mental health crisis are 12 times more likely to receive a police response involving the use of force.
Meanwhile, many calls to 988 centers in states across the country that required an in-person intervention were met with police response, as opposed to crisis intervention teams, who are facing both record demand and a lack of funding.