Bill Overview
Title: SMART Community Policing Act
Description: This bill expands the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program to specifically allow funds to be used for mobile crisis teams, behavioral health personnel, and case management or outreach teams to help deescalate situations between law enforcement and individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
Sponsors: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Target Audience
Population: People experiencing a mental health crisis globally
Estimated Size: 106000000
- The bill affects individuals experiencing mental health crises, as it focuses on deescalating situations involving law enforcement and these individuals.
- Mobile crisis teams and behavioral health personnel will be set up, which implies that individuals experiencing mental health issues in crisis will be the focal group to receive assistance.
- This intervention affects family members of individuals experiencing mental health crises, as they might be the ones reaching out for help and therefore relieved when encountering a specialized response unit.
- General communities in areas where the COPS program will be implemented, as community policing involves neighborhoods and community interactions that would be impacted.
- The bill affects the field of mental health response in incidents involving law enforcement, implying professionals in these roles and trainings will also be impacted.
Reasoning
- The SMART Community Policing Act targets mental health crises, which affects people experiencing such crises and their families.
- While the primary target is individuals in immediate mental health crisis, the scope includes community impact due to improved crisis management, leading to potential better community dynamics.
- Budget constraints require selective implementation, primarily in high-need areas, potentially impacting urban centers more than rural areas initially.
- The policy encourages diversified policing practices, impacting law enforcement officers by expanding their toolkit for managing crises effectively.
- Over time, as more community-oriented teams are established, indirect benefits may arise for areas initially not targeted due to spreading positive practices in law enforcement.
Simulated Interviews
social worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could greatly improve our approach to mental health crises in urban settings like Chicago.
- I hope the policy leads to more trained personnel who understand the nuances of mental health challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
law enforcement officer (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This should reduce the pressure on officers like me who sometimes feel unprepared for mental health crisis calls.
- It’s a relief to know we could have specialized team support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
stay-at-home parent (Houston, TX)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a specialized response for when my husband experiences crises would be a huge relief.
- I hope it will prevent unnecessary law enforcement confrontations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
retired teacher (Nashville, TN)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a good move to involve experts in mental health crises instead of regular police who might unintentionally escalate situations.
- However, implementation in rural areas like my hometown could be delayed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
psychiatrist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful about a structured approach to crisis management which could lead to lesser incarceration rates for mental health patients.
- We need continuous training for these mobile units, and I'm curious about how funding will sustain it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
student (Denver, CO)
Age: 19 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I probably won't call the police if I have a crisis without knowing these teams exist.
- Expecting them to offer support safely feels encouraging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
community organizer (Portland, OR)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with our efforts on the ground to provide immediate help rather than policing.
- It’s going to need community partnership and awareness to be truly effective.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
barista (Detroit, MI)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It often felt like the police weren't the best to handle my situation.
- This policy might mean I can call for help without fear.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
retired nurse (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A profound endeavor like this could help my community, many of whom struggle quietly with mental health.
- I’d love to see focused training for elder-friendly response as well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
farmer (Rural Pennsylvania)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rural areas often miss out on progress seen in cities; I hope this policy reaches us.
- It’s vital for people like my son to receive appropriate crisis intervention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $55000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $56000000 (Low: $51000000, High: $61000000)
Year 3: $57000000 (Low: $52000000, High: $62000000)
Year 5: $59000000 (Low: $54000000, High: $64000000)
Year 10: $60000000 (Low: $55000000, High: $65000000)
Year 100: $62000000 (Low: $57000000, High: $67000000)
Key Considerations
- Costs are primarily upfront due to the expansion and training required for new teams and integration with existing systems.
- Savings from reduced law enforcement and healthcare interventions will accumulate over time but depend on program effectiveness.