New Research from Right On Crime Highlights Best Practices, Challenges, and Community Resources
New research from Right On Crime explores alternative police crisis response efforts across the nation, spotlighting the decades of success in North Carolina communities and their innovative approaches to public safety. According to study author, Right On Crime Director Maggie Horzempa, North Carolina has seen transformative success with alternative police crisis response programs that prioritize safety, reduce the use of force, and foster stronger relationships between law enforcement and the public.
“More than 50% of police departments in North Carolina have implemented some form of a co-response program, with 78% utilizing community partnership models,” said Horzempa. “These programs are designed to address mental health and substance abuse crises, areas that have long posed challenges for law enforcement.”
Nationally, the 9-1-1 system receives over 240 million calls annually, with 50 million of those calls relating to mental health or substance abuse incidents, underscoring the need for specialized responses.
“Police crisis response models not only focus on de-escalation but also provide critical resources for citizens and enable law enforcement to devote more attention to traditional crime response,” said Brett Tolman, Executive Director of Right On Crime and former U.S. Attorney. “This research clearly shows that when law enforcement utilizes alternative response models supported by community partnerships and sustainable funding, the results are transformative.”
The research explores successes and challenges in North Carolina and other communities around the world with sustainable, collaborative strategies that balance public safety with mental health and social services.
“These models vary based on community needs and resources, but all show progress in helping to build trust within communities, and, most importantly, saving lives,” said Horzempa. “North Carolina’s approach prioritizes de-escalation and reduces reliance on the criminal justice system to address non-criminal issues such as homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use.”
The research further emphasizes that the success of these programs depends on a combination of strategic partnerships between law enforcement, mental health professionals, social services, and other community organizations. With sustainable funding and widespread adoption, these alternative approaches can lead to more effective public safety systems nationwide.
Right On Crime is a national campaign of the Texas Public Policy Foundation supporting conservative solutions for fewer victims, less crime, and safer communities. The movement was born in Texas in 2007, established as a national campaign in 2010, and leads the way in implementing conservative criminal justice initiatives across the nation that are just, effective, and fiscally responsible. For more information, visit our website at www.RightOnCrime.com.
For more information or to request an interview, contact Tonya Kerr ([email protected]).