Luke Spreen, assistant professor at the School of Public Policy, co-authored a journal article with Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Assistant Professor Greg Midgette, Distinguished University Professor Peter Reuter, Associate Professor Lauren C. Porter and Assistant Professor Brooklynn K. Hitchens that explores the potential benefits of re-tasking emergency calls to civilian responders and outlines important considerations for policymakers. The group's research highlights the importance of balancing public safety needs with the aim to reduce unnecessary police-community interactions.
Spreen and his co-authors emphasize that transitioning low-risk 911 calls from police officers to civilian first responders, such as social workers and paramedics, has the potential to enhance emergency response efficiency. Spreen notes that successful diversion programs often start small, gradually scaling up to demonstrate effectiveness and build community trust. “We believe this is the correct approach,” says Spreen, “though our analysis suggests that most existing diversion programs may still be too small.”
The study, supported by Arnold Ventures and Abell Foundation grants, introduces a model to assess the time use and fiscal impacts of call diversion programs, offering policymakers a data-driven tool for evidence-based decision making. By inputting local emergency calls and budget data, municipalities can estimate the cost of implementing such programs tailored to their needs. “Public safety is one of the most significant categories of municipal spending,” Spreen emphasizes. “Focusing exclusively on the costs of operating a civilian responder program ignores positive downstream benefits it is likely to generate, such as reductions in arrests.”
Case studies of call diversion programs in cities like Albuquerque, Atlanta, Denver and Houston provide valuable insights into varied program designs and implementations. Spreen stresses the importance of investing in training for emergency call takers and dispatchers to identify suitable calls for civilian response. “It is very challenging to parse exactly what event is unfolding from a 911 call, or how much danger it poses to the first responder,” observes Spreen. The group also advocates for the use of performance metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and guide future development.
Addressing potential resistance to reallocating resources from traditional policing to non-police response programs, Spreen acknowledges the political dimension but notes a shifting landscape. He suggests that historical incidents of police misconduct and growing evidence of diversion program efficacy have reduced the political risk associated with such reforms. Spreen encourages policymakers to leverage this momentum to garner public and political support for budget changes aimed at improving public safety.
Thoughtful consideration and strategic planning are two major factors in successfully implementing emergency call diversion programs, highlighting their potential to enhance public safety while expanding community trust in law enforcement.
This article was originally appeared in School of Public Policy. Image by Adobe Stock