Statewide Policies Relating to Pre-arrest Diversion and Crisis Response
This report from the R Street Institute highlights how state policies, laws and regulations affect the ability of law enforcement and community organizations to adopt pre-arrest diversion and crisis response initiatives related to the addiction crisis. Included is a review of policies from all 50 states and the District of Columbia in 5 policy areas: emergency mental health hold authority, protective custody orders, authority to issue citations rather than placing individuals under arrest, Good Samaritan legislation, and policies regulating where ambulances must transport patients. The report then describes the primary statewide barriers to implementing effective diversion strategies in these 5 policy areas, and provides examples of effective state and community diversion initiatives.
