In recent years, many people have raised concerns about the role of police in our society, including whether they are best suited to deal with emergency situations. When people call 911 for assistance, police will often be dispatched to the scene of an emergency along with other first responders, such as firefighters or emergency medical technicians. Unfortunately, the presence of police officers in certain situations can make things worse, especially in cases involving mental health issues. Since police officers are focused on identifying criminal activity, they may treat the people involved in an emergency as suspects, subdue people who they believe are behaving dangerously, and perform arrests rather than de-escalating a situation and offering aid.
Unfortunately, people who are involved in situations where someone called 911 may be subject to unnecessary arrests, and they may face criminal charges. This can be a major concern in cases where someone calls 911 to report a domestic dispute, and police who are called to the scene are likely to arrest at least one person involved on charges related to domestic violence. Those who have been arrested and charged with crimes in emergency situations will need to understand how they can defend against these charges and resolve a criminal case successfully.
Changing How 911 Calls Are Handled
In recognition that police officers often escalate emergency situations and perform unnecessary arrests, some communities are taking steps to revamp how 911 dispatchers respond to calls and provide people with emergency services. In cases involving mental health crises, 911 operators may work with behavioral health professionals to determine the appropriate ways to respond. By using crisis response teams who are trained in stabilizing situations, as well as mental health responders who can perform welfare checks or assist in providing the necessary care, communities can avoid sending police into volatile situations that they may not be trained to handle.
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