A lawsuit seeking to alter the DC police response to mental health calls can proceed.
Officers lack training for mental health crises, according to the judge.
On Tuesday, a federal judge allowed a lawsuit challenging the way police in Washington, D.C., handle mental health crises to proceed, despite the district's attempts to dismiss it.
The nonprofit Bread For The City filed a lawsuit against the district of Columbia, alleging that its police response to mental health crises exacerbates the situation.
In July 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of a nonprofit, accusing D.C. of violating the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. The ACLU stated on social media that the ruling was a significant step towards ensuring that mental health crises are treated with "care and compassion" instead of unnecessary law enforcement.
According to Ashika Verriest, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project, they are not trained to respond to a person in crisis and can be triggering, so it is necessary to call someone safe and trained to handle the situation.
According to the ACLU, when individuals in D.C. experiencing a mental health crisis call 911 for assistance, police officers are typically dispatched, which may exacerbate the situation or trigger the person experiencing the mental health crisis.
Verriest stated that the plaintiffs desire the District of Columbia to implement changes to the location of mental health providers dispatched to handle mental health crises, rather than police.
"According to Verriest, when you call 911, you rarely receive the type of response you need. In fact, based on our complaint analysis, you would receive that type of response less than 1% of the time, and even if you did receive it, you would have to wait hours for it."
The judge emphasized that her decision was not a condemnation of police actions, but rather that officers lack the necessary training for dealing with mental health crises.
Verriest suggested that mental health professionals could be funded by redirecting resources from police responses to mental health crises.
Verriest stated, "Examine the taxpayer funds allocated to police officers addressing this issue, the time they spend with individuals in crisis, the overtime involved, and the time spent transporting individuals to hospitals for treatment. Consider whether these resources could be utilized more effectively by deploying the appropriate responders."
Both sides are now preparing for a trial in this case.
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