What you need to know
- NYPD statistics obtained by NBC 4 New York show a sharp increase in the number of arrests involving individuals with mental health histories over the past five years.
- Mental health wellness and how police respond to incidents that may involve people with mental illness have been at the forefront of city policy and reform for quite some time.
- Earlier this month, state and local leaders unveiled a new crime-fighting plan they said would help thwart attacks on New York City’s public transit system.
According to NYPD statistical analysis obtained by NBC 4 New York, the number of arrests associated with individuals with mental health histories has surged over the past five years.
For the seven major felonies (homicide and manslaughter, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand theft, and grand theft of motor vehicles), there were 38,608 related arrests by 2022. -date. Of this figure, his 9,049, or 23.4%, of arrested individuals have documented mental health histories, referred to by police as “emotionally disabled” or EDP.
The latest citywide percentage of arrests defined as mentally ill is up from full-year 2017 statistics, with 41,539 arrests related to seven felonies citywide, and 14.9 arrests. % (6,187 cases) had a documented EDP history. .
Of the citywide arrests based on seven serious felonies through 2022, 421 of the year-to-date arrests were classified as seven serious felonies occurring in the city’s transit system, according to NYPD statistics. It has been. , nearly 40% (163) were emotionally disturbed people.
Note that that analysis is limited to data available to the NYPD, according to the department. This is primarily support reporting and treatment for prisoner reporting. This figure does not include all arrested individuals with a history of feelings.
Further dissecting the statistics shows that there were 16,100 felony assault arrests year-to-date in 2022, and 3,495 (21.7%) of these arrests were to individuals with a history of EDP. % (2,484) were from individuals with EDP.
Additionally, according to NYPD statistics, out of 3,020 slashing/stabbing arrests citywide, 679 (22.5%) had a documented EDP history. Meanwhile, in 2017, of his 3,238 slashing/stabbing arrests made citywide, 542 (16.7%) documented his EDP history.
According to NYPD statistics, out of 1,181 suspects and stakeholders citywide by 2022, 133 (11.3%) will have a recorded history of EDP. In 2017, out of 735 apparent perpetrators or persons with an interest in shooting, 6% (44) were considered his EDP.
New York City’s efforts to address the mental health emergency
Mental health wellness and how police respond to incidents that may involve people with mental illness have been at the forefront of city policy and reform for quite some time.
Earlier this month, state and local leaders unveiled a new crime-fighting plan they said would help thwart attacks on New York City’s public transit system.
Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul unveil new plans Last weekend, as the struggling MTA attempted to continue its slow-growing pandemic rebound, it sought to curb violence on the subway to assuage public concerns.
Democrats said they planned to authorize more than 1,000 overtime shifts each day, designed specifically to increase the number of uniformed police officers patrolling platforms and trains. An additional he funds 1,200 shifts would require 10,000 hours of patrol each day. Their weekend announcement also called for two new inpatient psychiatric facilities to help people with serious mental health issues.
Part of the plan, Hochul said, involves MTA police focusing resources on stations that connect to four major commuter rail hubs: Penn Station, Grand Central Station, Atlantic Terminal Station and Jamaica Station. It is said that there is whole system. Subway riders on Monday may have noticed announcements at certain stations reminding them that police are nearby if they need to report a crime or concern.
The “Police, Camera, Care” suite of initiatives Hochul called include expanded mental health training previously provided to New York State Police and crisis intervention first responders. State training is now offered to police and other city first responders specifically involved in transporting people requiring psychiatric evaluation.
NYC said its mental health team is working with police to tackle crime and homelessness, particularly on six lines, to make the subway safer. NBC New York’s Erica Byfield reports.
Those elected acknowledged the violence plaguing public transport. City leaders say crime has dropped, but his nine murders within his MTA this year have sparked complaints that need to be addressed head-on.
“We need to address both the perception and the reality of safety. The expanded partnership we announced today with Gov. Ho Chul will do just that while building on the success of the subway safety plan. We’re going to see more cops, the system, and people who want to break the law,” Adams said.
The mayor’s toolkit already has a way to send a number of additional cops into the transport system.His subway safety plan announced earlier this year Deploy additional cops After the start of his administration.
Adams said 40% of transit murders were committed by people with serious mental health problems.
The state has promised 50 new hospital beds – under a essentially new plan – to get people to commit.
The two new psychiatric facilities, with the first set to open by November 1, will house 25 inpatient units each. The second, he plans to open in early 2023.
State mental health departments oversee treatment programs designed to help people over the age of 18 who are experiencing homelessness and have severe mental illness, Hochul explained.
Within the new OMH assignment, a step-down program will be established to help patients transition to an independent, geared living environment.
Installing security cameras is one of the top planning priorities. The governor expects at least 750 to be installed on subway cars each month. The governor said he has already added more than 200 cameras to the vehicle since the announcement last month.
Critics were quick to denounce the plan, with Pat Lynch, president of the Police Charity Association, calling it “unsustainable.”
“Our city urgently needs to raise wages and improve working conditions to recruit and retain enough police officers. It’s the only way to provide true safety,” Lynch said.
Additionally, mental health advocates worry that it has gone too far and that the problem cannot be solved without a significant commitment to supportive housing.
last year, The city, along with NYC Health + Hospitals, unveiled mental health programs instead of turning in to the police.EMTs in New York City are accompanied by a social worker.
“B-HEARD,” or Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division, seeks to limit the potential for contact with the NYPD to worsen or trigger an emotionally disturbed individual.
City Hall said at the time that 2% of 911 calls were related to people with emotional disorders. At the time, city officials said these new teams would only be sent to his 911 calls without weapons or violence.
