Framingham Jail Diversion Program

Cross training of the police by clinicians/clinicians by police has led to a mutual understanding and respect, and both the police and crisis teams have felt enhanced. Both teams now feel that they have real “tools we can use.”

The police have reported that the number of ‘repeat players’ has decreased as people are referred for appropriate services and away from the criminal justice system.

· In the words of one of the team’s key police members, Sgt. Mike Esposito – “this works, right now, on the street. It keeps police officers visible in the community, doing their jobs, and not tied up in emergency rooms or filling out needless paperwork.”


		The Framingham Police Department and Advocates Psychiatric Emergency Services [PES] have created a new partnership, in which police and crisis workers cross train one another, then literally ride together, to ensure that people with mental illness who are touched by the criminal justice system are directed to needed services – not to pointless and expensive utilization of police and Court resources. The Framingham Jail Diversion Program, funded by private foundations (Metrowest Healthcare, Carlisle, United Way of Tri-County and Poitras), places fully trained crisis clinicians actually inside the police station 40 hours a week, and links police dispatchers and supervisors to fully trained clinicians via “instant-on” technology 24/7. The police have immediate access to more resources; the clinicians have immediate and expanded access to the police. Mentally ill individuals who are disruptive in the community are now handled by a team of professionals skilled in de-escalation, providing greater safety to all.		Cross training of the police by clinicians/clinicians by police has led to a mutual understanding and respect, and both the police and crisis teams have felt enhanced. Both teams now feel that they have real “tools we can use.” The police have reported that the number of ‘repeat players’ has decreased as people are referred for appropriate services and away from the criminal justice system. · In the words of one of the team’s key police members, Sgt. Mike Esposito – “this works, right now, on the street. It keeps police officers visible in the community, doing their jobs, and not tied up in emergency rooms or filling out needless paperwork.”

		© 2004 Advocates Inc. / Framingham Police Department