Jersey City Police Join New NJ Mental Health Crisis Response Program

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City police will participate in a statewide program to help them better respond to a person having a mental health crisis.

The police were criticized in 2023 when they responded to the home of Andrew Washington, after his family called 911 for help. Washington was shot to death by an officer.

A similar situation recently happened with a young woman in Fort Lee, prompting more calls for police to be better trained for handling their response to mental health crises.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced last week that Jersey City will be Hudson County’s second municipality – in addition to Bayonne – to participate in the Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together program.

The ARRIVE Together pilot began with a plainclothes trooper from the New Jersey State Police paired with a mental health screener, responding to 9-1-1 calls related to mental and behavioral health emergencies in an unmarked vehicle.

The Jersey City Division of Police will partner with Jersey City Medical Center to undertake a two-pronged approach in responding to individuals experiencing mental health emergencies.

“Since its inception, ARRIVE Together has enhanced New Jersey law enforcement officers’ response to mental health emergencies," said Gov. Phil Murphy. "This model has proven to be a valuable tool in our efforts to quickly and efficiently connect our residents with help during times of mental distress. Now operating in Jersey City – our state’s second largest city – this program will continue to make a difference for those in need and save lives."

“ARRIVE Together is a national model with a proven track record of improving outcomes,” said Attorney General Platkin.

Since ARRIVE was implemented in December 2021, increases in funding – including a $549,750 competitive federal grant – have allowed the program to expand to all 21 counties in the state.

This March, Attorney General Platkin issued a directive formally establishing the Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR) to support, coordinate, and spearhead initiatives – including ARRIVE Together – aimed at how New Jersey’s law enforcement agencies respond to public health crises.

In Jersey City

As the program expanded, ARRIVE models have been customized to fit the unique needs, resources, and priorities of the communities in which they operate. There have been no arrests related to an ARRIVE interaction, no serious injuries, and no uses of force except during interactions involving involuntary transport at the direction of a mental health screener in the nearly 5,000 ARRIVE interactions recorded to date.

Jersey City will use a co-response and follow-up model. Plain-clothed police officers and mental health professionals from Jersey City Medical Center will respond jointly after the call has been identified as appropriate for a co-response or follow-up.

It will operate two to three days a week initially and expand as JCMC expands its staffing. The Jersey City Police Department intends to also incorporate its Police Chaplain program to provide additional support to individuals and their families, when appropriate.

“RWJBarnabas Health is proud to once again be a part of this collaborative effort of delivering screening and supportive behavioral health care in partnership with law enforcement officers in order to facilitate safer and more compassionate care to the communities we serve, together,” said Frank Ghinassi, Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health Services at RWJBarnabas Health and President and CEO of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

“We are pleased to partner with the AG’s Office to implement this program and further build upon our public safety efforts,” said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.

“Law enforcement officers are often called upon to assist individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. In these situations, there is no one size fits all approach to best meet the needs of those we are sworn to serve,” said Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.

Last week, Attorney General Platkin also announced grant funding for the Anti-Violence Coalition of Hudson County to create Jersey City’s Community Crisis Response Team Pilot Program.

According to 2020 census data, Jersey City is home to more than 290,000 residents, noted a release from the state.

To learn more about the ARRIVE program, visit www.njoag.gov/arrive.