* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Cohen
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Responding to Mental Health Crises
For the purpose of inviting representatives from the Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore City Health Department, the Baltimore City Fire Department, Mayor's Office of Human Services, Behavioral Health System Baltimore, Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc., the 911 Call Center, and advocates of mental health to investigate how behavioral and mental health crises are handled, identify gaps, and develop the best path forward for addressing and de-escalating crises.
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Recitals
In light of recent events that have taken place across the U.S. and Baltimore, we must reexamine our response to behavioral and mental health crises. We seek to decriminalize mental health challenges. Too often, we have asked police officers to solve issues that they are ill equipped to handle. Police are not clinicians. Mental health issues like schizophrenia and addiction require a mental health response led by mental health professionals. Law enforcement has a role to play in responding to crises and supporting other professionals but sending police alone can escalate tense situations and result in bad outcomes for everyone. We also know that because of implicit bias and our legacy of racism, black and brown people experiencing mental health crises are most at risk for negative interactions with law enf...
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