At a time when US law enforcement faces increased scrutiny over its use of force when responding to mental health calls across the country, and with nearly 2 in 5 incarcerated people known to have a history of mental illness, Wisconsin police departments are adding social workers to first-response teams. While police officers are trained to deescalate situations, they are not mental health professionals. As such, this co-response model aims not only to resolve situations safely and better connect those in crisis to appropriate resources, it also frees up officers' time and attention to better focus on their primary responsibilities. Congress, in re-introducing legislation to incentivize local governments to create programs that explore alternatives to a law enforcement response, signals an intention not to criminalize mental health issues.

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