Research Reports / Mapping the Gaps: Connecting Crisis Calls to Community Care

Mapping the Gaps: Connecting Crisis Calls to Community Care

This report examines the relationship between the availability of community assets and calls for police service. Data collected on programs and services that provide support to individuals in crisis were mapped in conjunction with law enforcement calls for service data in two cities to better understand the patterns between needs and assets. The report encourages readers to consider how the public might work together with institutions to provide for the needs of the community.

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Why It Matters

Every day, law enforcement agencies are tasked with responding to a broad spectrum of calls for service, including calls involving individuals who may be experiencing mental health crises or who are otherwise in need of non-justice services. In such instances, responding law enforcement officers can play a pivotal role in connecting community members to the necessary resources and care. Furthermore, mapping community needs and assets can help identify service gaps and inform future programming considerations.

Key Findings

This analysis pointed to three key themes:

Mapping community assets can highlight potential mismatches in availability and need.

A side-by-side view of calls for service and available assets can reveal additional areas of community need.

Data quality and completeness are key to understanding these trends.