Bill Text: DE HCR28 | 2021-2022 | 151st General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: A Resolution Commending The Work Of The Nccpd Behavioral Health Unit And Urging Law Enforcement Agencies Throughout The State To Adopt A Similar Unit.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-1)
Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2021-06-09 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES [HCR28 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2021-HCR28-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Rep. Longhurst & Rep. Mitchell & Sen. Pinkney |
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Reps. Baumbach, Griffith, Hensley, Minor-Brown, Osienski; Sens. Ennis, Gay, Hansen, Sokola, Sturgeon |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 28
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE WORK OF THE NCCPD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT AND URGING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO ADOPT A SIMILAR UNIT.
WHEREAS, in an effort to meet the needs of the opioid epidemic, the New Castle County Police Department created the Hero Help Addiction Unit to refer people to addiction treatment rather than arrest for low-level crimes, and;
WHEREAS, in October 2019, the New Castle County Division of Police combined the activities of Hero Help Addiction Unit with a new Mental Health Unit, and formed the Behavioral Health Unit to help those with addiction or mental health illness avoid police involvement, and;
WHEREAS, the Mental Health program of the Behavioral Health Unit pairs a mental health professional with an officer to respond to specific emergency calls, and works to provide case management and referrals to decrease repeat calls to police and bridge gaps in care, and;
WHEREAS, in 2020, the Mental Health Unit made 1,336 contacts to individuals who were dealing with mental illness, made 766 follow ups, diverted 49 people from incarceration, and diverted 136 people from hospitalization, and;
WHEREAS, of the 445 calls for non-fatal overdoses, the Hero Help Outreach Team has reached or attempted to reach 1 out of every 2 non-fatal overdose 911 calls, on an average of 12 days from the call, and;
WHEREAS, overall, about 1 in 5 of those visited by the Hero Help Outreach Team will enroll in Hero Help, and;
WHEREAS, about 1 in every 4 participants enrolled in the Hero Help Program (HHP) were either actively involved in case management and/or have had reached their 6th month of recovery, and;
WHEREAS, under 30% of participants enter the Hero Help program with a pending charge and approximately three-fifths of participants avoid re-arrest within one year of enrolling, and;
WHEREAS, this model of care and community support should be adopted by law enforcement agencies around the State.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 151 st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, that we recognize the crucial work of the New Castle County Police Department’s Behavioral Health Unit.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly urges law enforcement agencies across Delaware to adopt similar programs to respond to behavioral health crises and elevate the standard of care across the State.
SYNOPSIS
This Resolution commends the work of the New Castle County Police Department Behavioral Health Unit and urges law enforcement agencies throughout the State to adopt a similar unit.
