assisting that person . The main purpose of the Bill is for the officers to be able to assist a mentally ill person to receive evaluation and care without having to arrest them and thus creating a criminal record .
In fact , the Legislative Committee of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police at a recent Executive Board meeting recommended in its 2021 platform of legislative priorities a category of “ Behavioral / Mental Health Response ” which supports legislation and expanded treatment of and response to mentally ill persons . The recommendation is to work with the State to educate the Legislature on the growing issues associated with the mentally ill and the increased burdens placed on law enforcement to respond to the related issues , which include , homelessness , substance abuse , dependency , and unpredictable and harmful behavior . It supports legislation , specifically House Bill 760 , “ to allow law enforcement officers to involuntarily transport persons , without making an arrest , to a medical facility when they have probable cause to believe that individual is a threat to themselves or others ,” and supports additional funding for law enforcement training in this area to include courses such as “ mental health for first responders ” ( eight hours ) and “ crisis intervention training ” ( forty hours ).
Georgia police agencies continue to work on improving encounters with people with mental illnesses including partnering with mental health service provider advocates . Within the last several months , the cities of Brookhaven and Johns Creek have entered into contracts with the Behavioral Health Link , which provides “ Blended Mobile Crisis Response Services ” through its contract with the State of Georgia ’ s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities . BHL and another provider operate the Georgia Crisis and Access Line , providing access to crisis services throughout the State on a 24 / 7 availability . However , the contracts with Brookhaven and Johns Creek will provide for the deployment of mobile crisis units and professional clinicians specifically to respond to calls for service involving mental illness or crisis intervention in those cities in coordination with their police officers . Clinicians will be located in those cities and will be available at least 40 hours weekly to provide services regarding mental health issues , developmental disabilities and substance abuse services and expertise that includes crisis and suicide intervention , de-escalation , and needs assessment . The pilot program is funded through the contract with the State and BHL with limited expense to those cities and , addressing an issue that sometimes arises , law enforcement officers retain supervision and control of any call or scene to which a joint response is made .
In a related development , President Trump signed in October 2020 a new law which creates the “ 988 ” hotline for mental health emergencies . While there is an existing National Suicide Prevention lifeline , it is a normal 10-digit number which is difficult to remember and use . Mental health and suicide prevention groups advocated for a simple number which advocates hope will be easily accepted and easy to use . It is hoped that this new hotline number may divert a number of 911 mental health calls , and provide a more clinical response and assistance to the caller or person about whom the call is made . The new line and program are scheduled to be operational by July of 2022 . >>
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