Episode 51: Common Sense Police Reform Happening in Denver
When most people call 911 they’re routed either to the criminal justice system or to the hospital emergency system. Realizing these two streams aren’t accurately meeting the needs of many Denver callers, the city instituted a pilot program called STAR in June of 2020. After a six month trial reports show that it was a huge success. Callers experiencing issues such as a mental health need, homelessness, or drug misuse received person-centered trauma-informed care, rather than a potential arrest or costly trip to the emergency room. The best news is that no one was arrested and no one required the involvement of the Denver Police Department. I’m sharing this good news story in hopes that it is added to our national conversation on police reform. More programs like this would be a win for the 911 caller, a win for the community receiving more holistic care, and a win for law enforcement saving valuable time and money so they can direct it elsewhere.
The following resources were used in compiling this episode:
Can Christians Smoke Pot if it’s Legal? by Jen Oshman (contains data on the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado.
Denver's STAR program sees promising results in first six months - 9News
Instead of Responding With Cops, Denver Sends Health Care Teams to Non-Criminal Calls — and It’s Already Saving Lives - Joshua at Caring for Denver