A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by Bread For The City, a nonprofit in Washington, D.C., against the district’s handling of mental health crises can move forward. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union in July 2023, accuses D.C. of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by responding to mental health crises with police rather than trained mental health professionals. The ACLU believes that this ruling is a step toward ensuring that mental health crises are dealt with care and compassion, rather than escalating situations with unnecessary law enforcement.
According to the ACLU, when individuals in D.C. experiencing a mental health crisis call 911 for help, police officers are typically dispatched to the scene. However, this approach can often worsen the situation or trigger the person in crisis. The plaintiffs in the case are calling for changes to the dispatch system, where mental health providers would respond to these calls instead of the police. The ACLU claims that currently, individuals only receive this type of response less than 1% of the time, and even then, it is not provided in a timely manner, often resulting in long waiting periods.
The judge emphasized that her ruling was not a criticism of police conduct, but rather an acknowledgment that officers are not adequately trained to handle mental health crises. Ashika Verriest, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project, pointed out that the amount of taxpayer money spent on police officers responding to mental health crises could potentially be better utilized by having the appropriate responders, such as mental health professionals. This suggests that funding for mental health professionals could potentially be redirected from resources currently allocated to police responding to mental health crises.
Bread For The City and the ACLU are pushing for systemic changes in Washington, D.C., to ensure that mental health crises are appropriately handled with trained professionals who can provide care and compassion. The current system of dispatching police officers to respond to these situations is seen as inadequate and potentially harmful to those experiencing mental health crises. The case is now moving forward to trial, with both sides preparing their arguments for how mental health crises in D.C. should be addressed in the future.
The lawsuit brought forth by Bread For The City and the ACLU has sparked a broader conversation about the way mental health crises are handled in Washington, D.C., and the need for a more compassionate and effective response. The ruling by the federal judge to allow the case to move forward is viewed as a significant step toward potential changes in the way mental health crises are addressed in the district. By focusing on redirecting resources to fund mental health professionals rather than relying solely on police intervention, the plaintiffs hope to create a more positive and supportive system for those in crisis.
Moving forward, the case will likely bring to light more details about the current state of mental health crisis response in Washington, D.C., and the potential benefits of implementing changes to the system. By advocating for dispatching mental health professionals to these situations, rather than police officers, the plaintiffs aim to create a more effective and compassionate response to individuals facing mental health crises. As both sides prepare for trial, the outcome of this case could have significant implications for mental health crisis intervention in Washington, D.C., and potentially serve as a model for other jurisdictions to follow in addressing mental health challenges.
