New Jersey Implements Groundbreaking Policy for Police Response to Mental Health

On Thursday, August 22nd, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced a landmark statewide policy that mandates police departments to coordinate with mental health professionals during responses to incidents involving barricaded suspects. This initiative is a direct response to recent fatal police shootings involving individuals experiencing mental health crises and aims to reduce the potential for violence in these high-risk situations.

The new policy, the first of its kind in the United States, requires police departments across New Jersey to deploy crisis negotiation-trained tactical teams equipped with nonlethal tools such as tasers and shields. Additionally, the policy expands the state’s “Arrive Together” program, which pairs law enforcement officers with mental health professionals to ensure a more measured and supportive approach during mental health emergencies.

The policy change comes in the wake of several tragic incidents, including the 2023 shooting of Andrew Washington in Jersey City and the recent death of Victoria Lee in Fort Lee, both of whom were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. These cases highlighted the critical need for specialized responses to mental health crises, as neither police department involved was part of the Arrive Together program at the time of the shootings.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized the importance of this new approach, stating, “We know that when you take a clinical and more enlightened approach when you don’t ask law enforcement to do everything…We can save lives.” The policy, set to take effect in October, is designed to create safer environments for both the individuals in crisis and the responding officers.

The families of Washington and Lee have called for greater accountability and systemic change in the way police handle mental health crises. Washington’s family has filed a lawsuit against the Jersey City Police Department, while Lee’s family issued a statement demanding accountability for her death.

The new directive has been praised by mental health advocates and community leaders. Charles Boyer, executive director of Salvation and Social Justice, applauded the attorney general’s office for the update but urged further action, including legislative measures and increased funding for community-led crisis response teams.

As New Jersey leads the way with this innovative policy, it sets a precedent for other states to follow in addressing the complex intersection of law enforcement and mental health, with the ultimate goal of preventing unnecessary violence and loss of life.