WHEREAS, communities across the county are well trained to call 911 for help and mental health calls currently have a law enforcement response; and

WHEREAS, the current model has led to more people with mental illnesses being involved in the criminal justice system and puts residents and officers at risk; and

WHEREAS, there are multiple Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) 911 dispatch centers in the county and different models exist to respond to mental health calls though mental health needs are similar across cities; and

WHEREAS, mental health crises are preventable, and residents should not need to wait until problems hit a crisis point to get needed help; and

WHEREAS, early intervention and stabilization improves outcomes and saves money by avoiding overuse of the criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, Black, Indigenous, and people of color residents are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, stakeholders are committed to reducing disparities, restoring residents to health and stability, reducing recidivism, and making our communities healthy and safe; and

WHEREAS, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee established the Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Committee to align policy, resources, data and services for people living mental illness who become involved in the criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, the Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Committee is responsible for the development and oversight of a county-wide strategic plan that advances the Sequential Intercept Model and best practice approaches for system reform.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners affirms the work of the Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Committee in promoting best practice and system reform using the Sequential Intercept Model as its framework for change; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Committee will establish a 911/Mental Health subcommittee to serve as a single point of entry for responding to mental health requests identified through public safety. This subcommittee will research best practice approaches and national models for responding to mental health needs identified through public safety; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the committee will submit a mid-year report to the Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Committee outlining recommended policy, resource, data, and service needs to reform the system and a final progress report in December 2021.