New Standard for Law Enforcement Accreditation Program   

After a year and four months of consideration, modification, and debate, CALEA Commissioners adopted a new standard concerning mental illness, along with a new glossary term. The standard is in effect now and agencies must be in compliance by March 19, 2005. The new standard and glossary term are:

41.2.8  The agency has a written directive regarding the interaction of agency personnel with persons suspected of suffering from mental illness that addresses:

1. guidelines for the recognition of persons suffering from mental illness;
2. procedures for accessing available community mental health resources;
3. specific guidelines for sworn officers to follow in dealing with persons they suspect are mentally ill during contacts on the street as well as during interviews and interrogations;
4. documented entry level training of agency personnel; and
5. documented refresher training at least every three years.

Commentary:  The intent of this standard is to require that the agency provide guidance to its personnel in dealing with persons suspected of being mentally ill. While the most serious consequences of officer interactions with the mentally ill are altercations or armed confrontations, other agency personnel who may come in contact with the public need guidance and training in dealing with the mentally ill.

Agency directives should be developed in collaboration with mental health professionals, who can train or assist the agency with training. Training should include access to the court system and applicable case law. The training should be reviewed and/or updated at least every three years. This training may be addressed for officers in the required use of force training (1.3.11) or annual training (33.5.1) and for all personnel during shift training (33.5.2), or other in- service program.

This directive should be cross-referenced with the agency’s directives addressing prisoner transportation (Chapter 71) and regarding receiving screening information (72.6.3).

Alternatives to arrest (1.2.6) should be considered to ensure the best treatment options are used and to keep those with mental illness out of the criminal justice system. (M M M M)

Glossary term:

MENTAL ILLNESS:  Any of various conditions characterized by impairment of an individual’s normal cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning, and caused by social, psychological, biochemical, genetic, or other factors, such as infection or head trauma.

This brings the total number of standards in the CALEA Law Enforcement Accreditation Program to 446.

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