Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Do homeless calls take up 65% of police resources?

 https://www.kotatv.com/2021/08/25/65-percent-rcpd-calls-service-have-do-with-homelessness-chief-asks-community-help/

 

The police chief agrees.

“We are not going to be able to arrest our way out of homelessness,” says Hedrick

Hedrick says that for a long time the criminal justice system has been called upon to solve low-level things like substance abuse, alcoholism and mental health issues.

“As a police agency,” Hedrick says, “we’re not going to be able to address those issues effectively.”

 He says they just end up ferrying folks to jail, often times repeat offenders, and not providing any real solutions.

* * * * *

Is this how it is in your community?  Wouldn't it make more sense to let professional social workers handle the homeless, and provide them with actual help?  Could it help reduce the actual cost of police and other services in your community?

No comments: