July 29, 2022 12:08pm EDT
Democrats push bill replacing police with 'mental health professionals' in emergencies involving mentally ill
GOP aide tells Fox News Digital that Democrats are 'doubling-down on failed policies'
By Thomas Catenacci | Fox News
House Democrats are aiming to hold a floor vote Friday on a bill that would provide states funding to replace law enforcement with mental health professionals.
The Mental Health Justice Act would provide grants to states to hire, employ, train and dispatch mental health professionals "in lieu of law enforcement officers" during emergency calls involving at least one person with a mental illness, according to the bill's text. The legislation was reintroduced last year by Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., who said it would reduce violence against people with mental illnesses.
"We should be connecting people in crisis to care, not tossing them in jail," Porter said in a statement at the time. "Mental illness is not a crime, and we have to stop treating it like one. Most police officers are not trained to care for individuals experiencing mental health crises, which too often tragically leads to unnecessary violence."
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-push-bill-replacing-police-mental-health-professionals-emergencies-mentally-ill