FACT SHEET for S. 1303: "An Act Relative to Training for Law Enforcement in Dealing with Individuals Suffering From Mental Illness or Mental Retardation"
Subject Matter: Police Recruit and In-service Training About Mental Health Emergencies and Victims, Witnesses or Suspects with Mental Illness or Mental Retardation
Legislative Lead Sponsor and Co-sponsors: Lead Sponsor, Sen. Cynthia Creem (Sen. co-chair of the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice). Senate co-sponsors: Sens. Shannon, Fargo, Walsh and Hedlund. House co-sponsors: Reps. Balser, Linsky, Carron, Jehlen, Petersen, Kahn, Fox, Owens-Hicks and Smizik.
Problem: Police confrontations with people with mental disabilities too often result in avoidable harm to both the police and persons with the disability. Recent events, like the death of hatchet- holding Daniel Furtado from police gunshots in Cambridge last July, are an extreme example of violent outcomes that neither the police nor the victim’s family and neighbors wanted. Police departments across the country have been joining disability professionals, consumers, family members and advocates to develop special training programs, designed to teach law officers strategies to reduce the chance of violence. These programs have drastically lowered deaths and injuries to consumers and police, and reduced arrest rates as well.
A task force of law enforcement leaders and state human services agency personnel is now working on the development of a training curriculum for new police recruits. This bill supports these efforts by mandating training, and requiring the inclusion of specialized training with the in-service training of experienced officers.
Bill Summary: Existing statutes require training and in-service review for municipal police officers on local lock-up suicide deterrence, rape evidence, alcohol-related motor vehicle offenses, domestic violence, hate crimes and computer technology. To these laws, the proposed bill would add a section requiring specialized training about responding to mental health emergencies and interacting with victims, witnesses and suspects with mental illness or mental retardation.
Among other things, the mandated training would emphasize: The enforcement of criminal laws for the benefit of victims and witnesses with mental disabilities; the availability of community resources for persons experiencing mental health emergencies; the protection of persons with mental disabilities; the diversion of persons with mental illness or mental retardation to treatment instead of criminal prosecution; and, information about people with mental illness or mental retardation, including common behaviors and strategies for reducing the risk of harm using the least intrusive means possible, consistent with the safety of the law enforcement officer and others.
Fiscal Impact: Enacting this bill would require minimal if any need for new funds.
Contacts, for information about this bill: Karen Talley or Regina Hill, Disability Law Center, 617-723-8455; or Judy Meredith, 617-338-0954.