Jac Charlier, executive director of TASC's Center for Health and Justice is featured in the following article, shared courtesy of National Association of Social Workers.
Social Work Advocates Magazine (April/May 2020 - digital edition)
There are typically two options for law enforcement when interacting with the public. One is to arrest the person breaking a law. The second is to take no action after investigating the situation.
A third option, called deflection, now is being promoted to police and communities.
The effort has police working with a coordinated system where a third party provides a handoff, guiding the civilian experiencing mental health or substance misuse concerns to community-based service providers, thereby helping the person avoid entering the justice system.
Deflection helps turn law enforcement encounters into opportunities, says Jac Charlier, executive director for Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities' Center for Health and Justice.
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