Sheriff Kalvin Barrett is proud of the progress in improving community safety and mental health outcomes through a collaborative effort between peace officers and mental health professionals. This partnership is designed to ensure that individuals experiencing mental health crises receive the appropriate care and support while maintaining public safety.
In response to the growing need for mental health services and the complexities of crises, the Sheriff’s Office joined Journey Mental Health Center in recent years to form a specialized response to emergency calls involving individuals going through a mental health crisis. This team currently consists of two mobile crisis workers from Journey Mental Health Center, who work directly from our precincts, along with four Sheriff’s deputies who specialize in mental health-related calls.
“By integrating mental health expertise into our emergency response framework, we aim to address the root causes of crises and provide compassionate, effective assistance to those in need,” said Sheriff Kalvin Barrett. “This collaboration allows us to prioritize both public safety and the well-being of our citizens.”
From 2022-2023, the Sheriff’s Office saw a twenty-two percent increase in mental health-related calls. We anticipate that number to increase again in 2024. These calls include situations involving individuals who may pose a safety risk to themselves or others, domestic disturbances, or calls involving autistic individuals or dementia patients, to name a few examples. The presence of the Journey Mental Health worker helps by providing a clinical assessment of the individual and determining the appropriate level of care in a crisis. They can also access various community resources during and after a call. In addition, the deputies and mental health workers conduct follow-ups to advocate for treatment and access to resources in hopes of preventing future emergency calls.
