Law Enforcement
Law enforcement officers are often the first, and frequently the only, responders to emergency and non-emergency calls involving people with behavioral health needs. These calls can be complex and challenging to resolve, with disproportionately tragic outcomes. In many communities, law enforcement officers have neither adequate training, nor the appropriate resources, to effectively respond to people in crisis. They also too often have few options of where to take someone in crisis other than jail or the emergency department.
To respond to these challenges, the Bureau of Justice Assistance added the Connect and Protect grant track to its existing JMHCP awards to ensure that law enforcement agencies had ample opportunity to receive funding that would aid and encourage collaborations with mental health and other community providers. With the support of Connect and Protect, many law enforcement agencies are now partnering with their behavioral health counterparts to build collaborative responses that provide alternatives to arrest, increase connections to resources, reduce repeat encounters, and minimize use of force in encounters with people with mental health needs and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Law Enforcement-Mental Health Learning Sites
Connect and Protect Collaboration Spotlight
Working alongside our community organizations and mental health partners has transformed how we approach public safety. By taking a holistic approach, we can address challenges like mental health, substance use, and poverty – issues that deeply affect people’s lives and often lead to crisis situations. These partnerships allow us to connect individuals to the resources and support they need, often during their most vulnerable moments. It’s more than just reducing negative outcomes; it’s about building trust, providing real solutions, and creating a strong, resilient community.
Corporal Sara Leishear, Frederick (MD) Police Department
Selected resources
Bridging the Gap: Denver's Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Collaboration in Crisis Response
Law enforcement
Police-Mental Health Collaborations: Implementing Effective Law Enforcement Responses for People Who Have Mental Health Needs
Law enforcement
Mental Health Training: Strategies for Small and Rural Law Enforcement Agencies
Law enforcement
Key Staff
Ethan Aaronson
Senior Policy Analyst, Behavioral Health
Ethan Aaronson provides technical assistance to Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program grantees and Law Enforcement-Mental Health Learning Sites. Prior to joining the CSG Justice Center, Ethan worked at the Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs, where he assessed how well local governments met the human service needs of residents. He also was the data manager for a project that supported individuals with co-occurring diagnoses in reentry. Previously, he was a counselor in New Jersey and Oregon, helping young men prepare for their return home after completing probation or parole. Ethan earned BAs in political science and history from the University of Vermont and his MA in criminal justice from Rutgers University.
Megan Hitchman
Policy Analyst, Behavioral Health
Megan Hitchman provides technical assistance to 20 Connect and Protect grantees as a member of the law enforcement team within the Behavioral Health Division at the CSG Justice Center. Previously, Megan worked for the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council in San Antonio, Texas, which develops, implements, and maintains the regional trauma and emergency healthcare system for 22 counties in southwest Texas. Her role included the planning, implementation, and oversight of multi-agency behavioral health response teams and mobile integrated healthcare teams. Megan also brings vast experience and knowledge in data mining and information sharing. She has a BS in criminal justice from Tarleton State University and is licensed as an EMT in Texas.
Ernest Stevens
Deputy Division Director, Behavioral Health
Ernest Stevens oversees the portfolio of work focused on improving outcomes for people experiencing behavioral health conditions and homelessness who encounter law enforcement. Ernest supports communities in adopting, implementing, and evaluating new practices. Previously, Ernest spent over 28 years in law enforcement helping develop new programs and policies for the San Antonio Police Department. He also worked as a program manager for the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council that oversees emergency operations for 22 counties in Texas. Ernest was featured in the Emmy Award–winning documentary Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops. Ernest also wrote Mental Health and De-Escalation: A Guide for Law Enforcement Professionals. He earned his BS in criminal justice from Wayland Baptist University.