Sign to Support Civilian Crisis Responders for Mental and Behavioral Health Issues

From the Vera Institute of Justice (https://www.vera.org/):

Police are the default first responders for mental and behavioral health issues – yet they’re not equipped to handle them. The very presence of an armed officer can magnify the emotional distress of people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

Civilian Crisis Responders are an effective way to provide compassion, care, and support to those in a crisis. It’s time to expand our public safety systems and rethink who responds to 911 calls.

Sign now at https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/sign-on-civilian-crisis-response-teams-offer-an-alternative-to-police to join the fight along with the Vera Institute of Justice and demand a change to how we respond to emergencies.

A recent Vera study showed that only 7 percent of calls are for situations that pose an imminent safety risk or concern a crime. Using police as catch-all first responders is ineffective and overburdens our public safety systems.

There is a better way.

We can change from a reactive approach to public safety to a preventative one. Racial equity, lived experience, and cultural competency in behavioral health crises make our communities safer.

You have the power to make a difference in the justice system. When you sign up today, you are joining the fight.