Assessing the Effects of a Community Crisis Response Program on Policing Outcomes in Seattle

In many areas of the U.S. police are the primary first responders to mental health emergencies. The potential harm of police response to these emergencies has inspired calls for alternative crisis response options and cities across the country responding by creating alternative crisis response programs. Despite their increasing prevalence, there is limited research on these programs. Sociologists Amy L. Johnson and Rebecca Gleit will evaluate the effects of Seattle’s community crisis response program on outcomes such as arrests and psychiatric detentions. They will analyze administrative data from the Seattle Police Department and Census data for their study.