WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement upon passage of the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act. This bill invests in local and state law enforcement agencies by training law enforcement officers in de-escalation tactics to safely and successfully be of service to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
“I’m proud to send this legislation to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Those suffering from their mental health deserve effective treatment, not instant criminalization, when facing a crisis,” said Congressman Mfume. “Law enforcement officers are often the first to encounter individuals in these emergency situations and providing them with the proper training and resources to do their jobs is the right thing to do. This bill will keep our communities safe and help save lives,” he concluded.
Topline Highlights of the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act
Responds to Need for Alternatives to Use of Force
More than 2 million people with serious mental illness are arrested per year, with as many as 64% of jail inmates having a mental illness.
People in crisis make up 25-50% of fatalities during law enforcement encounters.
Protects Individuals in Crisis, Law Enforcement, and Bystanders
Instructs the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to build curricula in the training topics, or identifying current curricula, in discussion with law enforcement, mental health organizations, family advocacy organizations, civil liberties groups, and more.
Authorizes $90 million in grant funding for training, which incorporates exercises and evaluative assessments.
Requires the National Institute of Justice and the Government Accountability Office to examine the effectiveness of the program and its results.
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