Identifying signals of mental health crisis in calls for police service

Sue-Ming Yang, Sangjun Park, Yi-Fang Lu and Charlotte E. Gill

Journal of Criminal Justice, 2025, vol. 97, issue C

Abstract: This study explores patterns and features of mental health calls in a predominantly rural county in the United States. We found that mental health calls cluster in a very small number of street segments and these “hot spots” are relatively stable over time. Furthermore, using the Spatial Point Pattern Test and trajectory analysis, we identified a set of ‘signal calls’ that are not initially recorded by police as mental health-related but which are also highly clustered at hot spots of mental health calls. These signal calls could be used to help inform police agencies about possible risk factors for mental health crises in the community. We discuss the implications of the findings for policing and mental health practitioners.

Keywords: Mental health; Policing; Hot spots (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:97:y:2025:i:c:s0047235225000054

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102356

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